DIARY OF COLONEL 
ISRAEL ANGELL 

1778 -1781000000 




EDWARD FIELD 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

tnap. Co|)yriglit Xo. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



DIARY OF 

COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL 



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Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island 
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Diary of Colonel Israel Angell: Commanding 
the Second Rhode Island Continental Regi- 
ment during the American Revolution, 
J 778-1 781. 

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Diary of Colonel 

ISRAEL ANGELL 

Commanding the Second 
Rhode Island Continental 
Regiment during the 
American Revolution 

1778-1781 



Transcribed from the Original Manuscript 

Together with a Biographical Sketch of the Author 

and Illustrative Notes by 



EDWARD FIELD, A.B. 

Historian 0/ the R.I. 'Society of the Sons of t lie American Revolution 



ILLUSTRATED 



PROVIDENCE, R.I. 
PRESTON AND ROUNDS COMPANY 

I 899 






TVVO Co Pits t^-'f-;. c: 



Offk« of no 



Register of Copyrlj^hts, 



50940 

Copyright, 1899 

BY 

EDWARD FIELD 



SECOND COPY* 






THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED 

TO 

THE MEMORY OF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER 

©arius Eijurtrr 

A FIFER AND PRIVATE IN CAPTAIN WILLIAM TEW'S 
COMPANY 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL S REGIMENT 



AND TO HIS COMRADES 
IN ARMS 



PREFACE. 



THE diaries here printed are in six separate parts, five 
of them being the property of Malcolm H. Angell, 
Esq., of Etna, Bergen County, New Jersey, while the 
other (Part Two) is the property of a descendant of 
Colonel Angell in Rhode Island. The pages on which the 
entries are written are about three and one half inches wide 
by six and three quarters inches long. The sections or 
parts of the diary vary as to the number of pages, and are 
stitched together without covers. 

Their general appearance is indicated by the fac-simile 
page accompanying this work. The whole diary has been 
carefully transcribed and copious notes added. It is hoped 
that these annotations will add to the interest of the diary 
itself, and be found useful in identifying and describing 
persons and places briefly referred to by the diarist. 

In preparing the great number of notes which is contained 
in the work, I have been aided by many persons, but to 
name all would be beyond the possibilities of this preface; 
to all such persons, however, I return grateful thanks. I 
desire to particularly acknowledge my obligation to Malcolm 
H. Angell, Esq., for permitting me to have in my custodv 



viii PREFACE. 

the parts of the diary owned by him, and to Mr. Harris W. 
Brown for the use of the other section under his control. 
To His Excellency Elisha Dyer, Governor, and to the Hon. 
Charles P. Bennett, Secretary of State, I am indebted for 
courtesies extended in securing for the work the illustration 
of the standard carried during the war by Colonel Angell's 
regiment. 

In addition to the diaries here printed Colonel Angell 
has left two others: one of them describes the happenings on 
a journey to the Ohio Valley in 1788, the other a trip to 
Philadelphia in 1792 ; both these are of peculiar interest 
from the notes which the writer made on the condition of 
these localities at that early period. 

EDWARD FIELD. 

Providence, R.I., October 4, 1899. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL 



ISRAEL ANGELL was a descendant in the fifth gen- 
eration of Thomas Angell, who came to Providence 
with Roger Williams ; he was the son of Oliver and 
Naomi (Smith) Angell, and was born in that part of the 
town of Providence now included in North Providence, 
Aug. 24, 1740. 

He received more than the usual education afforded the 
youth of that period, for his mother had been a teacher in 
one of the country schools and was thus able to give her son 
many advantages of learning. He seems to have been con- 
versant with scientific subjects, was particularly fond of natu- 
ral history, and in his later years made many notes on this 
branch of science as he travelled through sections of the 
country on public business. He is also said to have been an 
enthusiastic student of astronomy. 

At the very beginning of the troubles with the mother 
country Israel Angell took an active part. When the army 
of observation was ordered raised by the General Assembly 
of Rhode Island in 1775, he was commissioned Major of the 
regiment commanded by Col. Daniel Hitchcock. The regi- 
ment to which he was attached formed a part of the Ameri- 



X COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 

can armv laying siege to Boston and bore its part in the 
events which subsequently transpired. 

There is a letter yet preserved among the manuscripts of 
the Rhode Island Historical Society written bv Israel Angell 
to his brother, dated at Prospect Hill, Dec. i, 1775. It 
gives a clear idea of the character of the man who was des- 
tined to bear so conspicuous a part in the struggle for inde- 
pendence, and for that reason it is here printed : 

Prospect Hill, December the ist 1775. 
Dear brother — 
I take this oppertunitv to inform you that I Still Enjoy that 
Blessing which is mv health. God be Praised, and I hope 
that you and all yours Receves the Same blessing. I was in- 
form"', by Our brother Elish that there was no nails to be had 
in Providence but that you thought likely there was Some in 
Newport, and If there is Pray Brother. Send and git them 
and See that one Room is furnished this winter otherwise I 
Shall be very Discontented about my familey. and only Send 
to me and let Me know what Sum of money you Shall want 
to Carry on the Business and I will Send it as Soon as Possi- 
ble, there is no Nails to be had in this Part of the world 
and what news We have I Suppose you will hear of long be- 
fore this reaches You the Privatears from Marblehead have 
taken a brigg from England to Boston Loded with war like 
Stores ; one Brass 13 inch Morter Bead and all Com pleat 2 
Brass Six Pounders 2000 Kings Arms — a great Quantity of 
Cannon Shoot And cartridges for both Cannon and Small 
arms a Number of Carbines and in Short Every war like 
article that Can be Mentioned all which is a Comming out 
to Cambrig and other Places from the Sea Shore, there was a 
malenculv Aflair happened a few days Past at — deadham 



COLOXEL ISRAEL ANGELL. XI 

Col' Huntingdon Wife from Conneticut hanged her Self there 
She was Governer Trumbels Daughter of Conneticut 5c Sis- 
ter to our Commisarry general in Cambrig Brother 1 am 
much allarm^' At the News of the Conduct of the People in 
Providence And the towns adjecent to hear that they are 
likely to Rise in mobs on the account of Salts rising and Some 
other Small Articals I begg of Every honest and well ment 
Person both in town and country to Exert them Selves to 
The utmost of their Power to Surpress aney riotous Proceed- 
ing Among your Selves Especily at this time for God Sake 
Let us unite all as one in America if we dont. but tall at 
varance among our Selves, of all Gods Creation we Shall be 
the most Miserablest So no more at Present 

Your &c 
To Hope Angell Israel Angell 

Esqr of North 

Providence Brother I am afraid you Can Never 

Read the above lines as They was 
wrote in a few minutes And with a 
bad Pen and poor Ink. 

Upon the formation of the Second Rhode Island Regi- 
ment Daniel Hitchcock was elected Colonel and Israel 
Angell Lieutenant-Colonel, and the regiment was despatched 
to join the grand army under Washington. 

Upon the death of Colonel Hitchcock the command o^" 
the regiment was given to Angell, his commission bei:r; 
dated Jan. 13, 1777; this position he held until the First 
and Second Regiments were consolidated. 

In August, 1777, his regiment was at Peekskill, N.Y., 
from which place he wrote the following pathetic letter to 
the Governor of Rhode Island: 



xii COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 

Camp No z August 27—1777 
Gentlemen, Pure necessity urges me to trouble you this 
once more in behalf of ye Troops under my command ; you 
will easily recollect that I haye repeated mv Solicitations 
before you on ye Subject of their cloathing as far as was 
decent. 

I did, indeed expect when I came from Home to find my 
men poorly Habitted nor was I disappointed their Dress 
even exceeded for badness what I had imagined to myself. 
Not one half of them can not be termed fit for duty on 
any immergencv; Of those, who of them went with me 
on a late expedition near to Kings bridge many were bare 
foot, in consequence of which its probable they vyon't be fit 
for duty again for many week 5 of them there deserted to 
ye enemy which I haye reason to beleiye was principally 
owing to ye non fulfillment of engagements on ye part of ye 
State and what may be expected better than this that more 
will follow their example while they daily experience that 
publick faith is not to be depended on. In fine ye Regi- 
ment is scandallous in its appearance in ye view of every 
one — and has because of this incurred from surrounding 
regiments from ye inhabitants of Towns thro which they 
have lately passed, ye disagreeable and prov'oking Epithets 
of the Ragged Lousey Naked Regiment. — Such treatment, 
gentlemen, is discouraging dispiriting in its tendency : it 
does effectually unman ye Man and render them almost use- 
less in ye Army I am sorry to have occasion to .continue my 
complaint in their behalf but as I look upon it, a matter, not 
of Empertinence but of Inportance I cannot retrain in justice 
to them. 

I pray gentlemen you would as speedily as possible inform 
me of ye result of your Deliberation on the Matter and let 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. XIU 

me Know whether they are likely very soon to have relief. 
If this is not ye case I shall look upon myself in Honour 
Bound to make my Application some where else 

I am gentlemen with all due Respect Your Honours hum- 
ble Servant 

Israel Angell Colo. 

To his Honour ye Gov. & Council State R. I. 

Colonel Angell participated in the battles of the Brandy- 
wine and Red Bank and was with the army during the 
terrible winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. 

His regiment bore a conspicuous part in the battle ot Mon- 
mouth, and soon after this engagement he with his regiment 
was detached from the main army and sent to Rhode Island 
to unite with General Sullivan in the operations against the 
enemy at Newport, R.I. For distinguished services at the 
battle of Springfield, June 23, 1780, he was the subject of 
special mention by General Washington in a letter to Gov- 
ernor Greene ot Rhode Island. 

Upon the consolidation of the two Rhode Island regi- 
ments Colonel Angell retired from the position he had held 
so long. 

By the Act of Congress of Oct. 3, 1780, this was 
not to take effect until the first of January following, but it 
seems that it was some months later than this before he 
wrote in his diary that his days as a military commander 
ceased, 

Upon retiring from military life Colonel Angell returned 
to his home in the town of Johnston, where he carried on his 



XIV 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 



farm and followed his trade as a cooper; at the same time he 
was granted a license to keep a public house. 

His tavern was a popular place of resort and was widely 
known for its excellence and hospitality. 

Late in life he moved into the town of Smithfield, where 
he died May 31, 1832, in his ninety-second year. He is 
described by one who remembered him as of "medium 
height, light complexion, auburn hair surmounted bv a wig, 
blue eves, a strong Roman nose, and straight as a ramrod." ' 

Colonel Angell was three times married and is said to 
have contemplated a fourth venture when death terminated 
his life. - In love and in war Colonel Angell was a conspicu- 
ous figure. 

' Statement in a sketch of the life and services of Col. Israel 
Angell read before the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the 
American Revolution, Feb. 22, 1897, t>y Robert P. Brown, Esq. 

^ His first wife was Martha Angell, his second cousin, who died 
March 16, 1793. By her he had eleven children: 



Mary 










June 17, 1766. 


Elizabeth 








April 27, 1768. 


Sarah 








October 17, 1769. 


Asa 










August 24, 1 771. 


Abner 










February 21, 1773. 


Israel 










September 12, 1775 


Martha 










August 23, 1779. 


Naomi 










September i, 178 1. 


Ruth 










May 10, 1785. 


Stephen 










July 4, 1787. 


Oliver 










December i, 1790. 



His second wife was Susannah Wright and by her he had six 
children : 



COLONEL LSRAEL AXGELL. 



XV 



" He had seventeen children, eleven bv his first wife and 
six by the second, and of the seventeen, thirteen reached 
maturitv and eight became octogenarians." 

He was buried in the familv gravevard on his old farm 
in Johnston on the South Scituate road. For years this 
ancient burying-place has been abandoned and neglected, and 
the mutilated marble stone which marked his last resting- 
place, when the writer visited the spot a vear or so ago was 
lying broken upon the ground. An iron marker of the 
Sons of the American Revolution has been placed over the 
spot by the Colonel's great-grandson, Harris W. Brown, Esq. 

His military record as compiled by Heitman in his 
" Officers of the Continental Army " is as follows : 

" Angell, Israel (R.I.), Major of Hitchcock's Rhode 
Island Regiment, 3d May to December, 1775. Major iith 
Continental Infantry, 1st January to 3 ist December, 1776. 
Lieutenant-Colonel 2d Rhode Island, ist Januarv, 1777. 
Colonel, 13th January, 1777; retired ist January, 1781. 
(Died,— May, 1832.)" 

Such in brief is the history of the man whose diaries are 
here presented. His conspicuous service, his gallantry and 

Born. 

Luther May 11, 1794. 

Infant son .... February, 1794, died young. 
Susannah .... January 23, 1798. 

Mehitable .... January 31, i8oo. 

Henry May 21, 1802. 

Isaac ..... January 20, 1809. 
The third wife was Sarah Angell, the widow of Richard Angell. 
(Angell Genealogy, page 80.) 



XVI COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 

bravery, demand more recognition than is now or has here- 
tofore been given him. No adequate history of his life has 
ever been written, but fugitive sketches have, from time to 
time, appeared in various publications in which his ser- 
vices have been briefly told. Some years ago a descendant ^ 
secured from various sources most of his private papers, the 
service sword which he had carried so honorably through 
the war, and many other relics and mementoes, for the 
purpose of using them in preparing a proper record for 
publication. They were all taken without the country, but 
ere they could be put to this purpose the person in whose 
custody they were died, and all this valuable material has 
been lost. No portrait exists to preserve the features and 
appearance of this striking personage in the history of the 
War for Independence. 

' Hon. Anson Burlingame. 



DIARY 

OF 

COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL 



SECOND RHODE ISLAND REGIMENT OF THE 
CONTINENTAL LINE. 



The standard of which this is a photographic reproduction 
was borne by AngelPs Second Rhode Island Regiment during 
the American Revokition until its dissolution. It is preserved 
with that of the First Rhode "Island Regiment in the State House 
at Providence, R.I. When these two regiments were consoli- 
dated, January i, 1781, both became the colors of the Rhode 
Island Regiment. On February 28, 1784, Jeremiah Olney, the 
last Colonel of the Regiment, in behalf of the officers deposited 
these standards with the State for preservation. The proceedings 
and correspondence relative to the matter may be found in the 
"Rhode Island Colonial Records,'' Vol. X., p. 14. 



PART ONE. 



THE diary of Colonel Angell begins with 
the twentieth of August, 1778. The regi- 
ment which he commanded was then encamped 
at Tiverton, R.I., and formed a part of the army 
under Gen. John Sullivan, then engaged in the 
operations against the British forces on Rhode 
Island. 

It details the happenings from day to day 
during the siege, and terminates September 23, 
1778, when Colonel Angell was at his home 
in Johnston on leave of absence by reason of 
sickness. 

The regiment had then taken up quarters 
about a mile above Warren, where it was en- 
camped. 

August 20th, 1778. A cloudy foggy 
morning but broak away by nine o'clock and 
the Canon begun to play. Gov. Bradford ' 
Come to my quarters this day and Dind with 

' William Bradford, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 
November, 1775, to May, 1778. 



2 THE DIARY OF 

US. I was ordered on duty to day and Marched 
of with a detachment of 500 men as a Cover- 
ing party at five oclock P.M. and Releaved 
Colonel Wigglesworth,' the french fleet not 
being yet heard of ^ Spread great consternation 
in the Army. 

21st. A pleasant Morning but Some foggy 
there was an Exceeding heavy fire from both 
Armys to day, with Cannon and Hoitzers we 
had but one man hurt and he had the Calf of 
his leg Shot away by a Cannon Shot as he was 
going to Carry his mesmates Some Vittles I 
was Releaved by Col. Jacobs ^ about 8 oclock in 
the evening. 

August 22d, 1778. A Clowdy thick 

'Edward Wigglesworth (Mass.), Captain Company of Massa- 
chusetts Matrosses, 29th June, 1776; Colonel Massachusetts Militia 
in 1776 ; Colonel 13th Massachusetts, 1st January, 1777 ; resigned 
loth March, 1779. (Died 8th December, 1826.) — (Heitman's 
"Officers of the Continental Army.") 

® Diary of Fleet S. Greene, written in Newport, in "Historical 
Magazine," i860, Vol. IX., under date August 20, notes, "At 11 
o'clock this morning a Fleet appeared standing off about "W. N.W. 
with the wind at S.W : it is thought to be the French." The same 
period covered by this diary of Angell's is also covered by the 
Greene diary, and being an account of the happenings within the 
British lines is of peculiar interest in connection with Angell's 
statements. See " Historical Magazine," i860, Vol. IV., 1-34, 69, 
105, 134, 172. 

^Heitman mentions a John Jacobs, Massachusetts, who was 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the 23d Continental Infantry. Colonel 
Jacobs is mentioned in the "After Orders " of August 15 as one 
of the Field Officers. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 3 

morning with a North East wind and Cold we 
had a great Number of Cannon Carried to the 
different Batteries last Evening in order to 
open upon the Enemy this morning, but the 
weather being thick prevented our beginning 
the fire so soon as we Should had the weather 
have been clear, on Circumstance I forgot to 
mention the night before last after I had fin- 
ished my journal for that Day there was an 
Express come to headquarters from Count D^ 
Estaing the french Admiral who had arived 
and lay without the light hous ' and yesterday 
we saw the Ships two of them had ben Dis- 
masted in the late Storm one was the Admirals 
ship ^ she was totally dismasted the others had 
her Mizen mast Carried away, and her main 
top one Simmons from Providence was badly 
wounded by the Bursting of a Shell there was 
but litt firing to day to what there was yesterday. 
August 23d, 1778. A thick morning 
and Cool, the Enemy flung Shells the Greatist 
part of the night past, and this morning the 
Batteries on our Side was opened on the Enemy 
and a most terrible Cannonade kept up during 
the day. 

' Beaver Tail Light-house at southern end of the island of Conani- 
cut (subsequently destroyed by the British). 
'^ The " Languedoc." 



4 THE DIARY OF 

I dind with Gen' Greene ' to day, the French 
fleet Left us to day bound to Boston and I 
think left us in a most Rascally manner and 
what will be the E.vent God only knows we 
had one man kill'd and one or two wounded, 
one Eighteen pounder and one Brass ten inch 
morter was split to day but kild no man.- 

August 24th, 1778. A Smoking thick 
morning the Enemy Continued throwing Shells 
all the night past, and to day the Cannonade 
Continued very Sevear I and Col Olney was 
Curious Enough to measure all the Covered 
way ^ which was 1512 yards, in the afternoon 
we got our thirteen inch morter to play and 
flung three Shell but did no execution they 
broak in the air as the fues was two Short. 

25th. A clear hott morning and a sevear 
Cannonade and Bumbarding Still kept up and 
Continued the whole Day, we got off some of 
our heavier Baggage to day in order to make a 
Retreat of the Island in Case necessity required 

' Gen. Nathanael Greene, who had been detached from the main 
army to cooperate in Sullivan's expedition. 

^ Rev. Manasseh Cutler, Chaplain of Ti':comb's Regiment, says in 
his diary under this date, " One man Killed by a cannon ball at one 
of our guns; another died of the wound he received yesterday by 
the bursting of a shell . . . Our people split one eighteen 
pounder and one nine and a half inch mortar." 

■* The covered way is shown on the battle map of Sullivan's 
expedition accompanying this work. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 5 

it Major Blodget came to Camp to day from 
the westward but brought nothing new I sent 
off my marque and went and took quarters with 
Col. Livingston ' and Major Huntingdon " at 
night we mustered all the teams we had and 
proceeded to the lower works in order to git 
off all the Cannon and morter as a Retreat was 
Determined upon. 

August 26. Clear and Exceeding hott 
about Eleven o'clock there was a Allarm it be- 
ing Reported that the Enemy was a Coming out 
but proved falls and we rested in peace this day. 

' Livingston, Henry Beekman (N.Y.), Captain 4th New York, 
28th June, 1775. By the act of 12th December, 1775, it was " Re- 
solved, that this Congress will make a present of a sword of the 
value of $100 to Captain Henry B. Livingston, as a testimony of 
his services (at Chambly, S.C.) to this country, and that they will 
embrace the first opportunity of promoting him in the army." 
Major 3d New York, December, 1775, to rank from 2d August, 
1775; Aide-de-Camp to General Schuyler, February to November, 
1776; Colonel 4th New York, 2ist November 1776; resigned 13th 
January, 1779. (Died 5th November, 1831.) 

^ Ebenezer Huntington (Conn.), served in the Lexington alarm, 
April, 1775 ; ist Lieutenant 2d Connecticut, 8th September to loth 
December, 1775; ist Lieutenant 22d Connecticut Infantry, ist Jan- 
uary, 1776; Captain, May, 1776; Brigade-Major to General Heath, 
August, 1776; Major of Webb's Additional Continental Regiment, 
1st January, 1777; Lieutenant-Colonel, loth October, 1778; trans- 
ferred to 3d Connecticut, 1st January, 1781 ; transferred to 1st Con- 
necticut, 1st January, 17S3; retained in Swift's Connecticut Regi- 
ment, June, 1783, and served to 3d November, 17S3; Brigadier 
General United States Army, 19th July, 1798. Honorably dis- 
charged, 15th June, 1800. (Died 17th June, 1834.) (Hcitman's 
"Officers of the Continental Army.") 



6 THE DIARY OF 

27th August, 1778. Cloudy and rained 
a little this morning but Soon broke away and 
was hott we met with som misfortune last 
Evening. I had one Ensign and 14 men 
taken prisoners by the British troops as they 
was a Setting their sentries the Ensign was 
John Viol.' Genl, Varnum ^ formed an ex- 
pedition against a picquet which lay near our 
right wing, which proved unfortunate being 
drove off with the Loss of one Lt and 3 pri- 
vates I was the officer of the Day to day. 
three large Ships arrived in the harbor about 

' Mrs. Williams, in her " Biography of Revolutionary Heroes," 
Providence, 1839, page 93, gives another version of Vial's capture, 
in which she relates, " He fought at the battle of Rhode Island in 
Sullivan's expedition, and was left on the island by mistake. 

"Being on picket guard, they forgot to notify him at the retreat, 
and he fell into the hands of the British, and was kept for a time 
in one of the prison ships lying in the harbor of Newport." 

These details are inconsequential, yet perhaps the diarist's ac- 
count is more worthy of belief. 

* James Mitchell Varnum (R.I.), Colonel Rhode Island Regi- 
ment, 3d May to December, 1775; Colonel 9th Continental Infantry, 
ist January to 31st December, 1776; Colonel 1st Rhode Island, 1st 
January, 1777; Brigadier-General Continental Army, 27th February, 
1777; resigned 5th March, 1779. Was also Major-General Rhode 
Island Militia. (Died loth January, 1789.) (Heitman's " Officers of 
the Continental Army.") Also Colonel of the Kentish Guards, 1 774. 
See Greene's " History of East Greenwich," pages 179 to 185; also 
same 169-176 for biographical sketch. 

See also Cowell's " Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," page 256. A 
poor portrait of Varnum in Stone's " French Allies," page 84. 
Updike's " Memoirs of the Rhode Island Bar. Boston, Thos. H. 
Webb & Co., 1842." Page 145. 



r^ 



f 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 7 

two o'clock Suppos'd to be from New York 
I din'd with Col. Greene ' thro' day and spent 
the Greatest part of the afternoon in Visiting 
the Guard. 

August 28th, 1778. A Clear Morning 
and very Cool. Several Accidents happened 
during the night past, in the first place we was 
ordered to strike our tents and march of by 
Eight o'clock in the Evening to the North 
End of the Island, and the Order of March 
given out. but the order was Countermanded 

1 Christopher Greene was the son of Judge Philip Greene and 
Elizabeth Wickes Greene, and was cousin to Gen. Nathanael Greene. 
He served as Major in Arnold's expedition against Quebec in 1775, 
and was made a prisoner. 

During the period of captivity he was, upon recommendation 
of General Washington, appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Htst 
Rhode Island Continental Regiment. 

His military services, as compiled by Heitman, are as follows : 
Greene, Christopher (R.I. ), Major of Varnum's Rhode Island Regi- 
ment, 3d May, 1775; Lieutenant-Colonel; taken prisoner at 
Quebec, 31st December, 1775; Colonel 1st Rhode Island, 27th 
February, 1777, to rank from 1st January, 1777. 

By the Act of 4th November, 1777, it was " Resolved that Con- 
gress have a high sense of the merit of Colonel Greene and the 
officers and men under his command, in their late gallant defence 
of the fort at Red Bank, on the Deleware river, and that an ele- 
gant sword be provided by the Board of War and presented to 
Colonel Greene." 

He was killed 14th May, 1781, by Delancey's Tories in West- 
chester County, N.Y. For a particular account of the battle of Red 
Bank and illustration of his magnanimity on this occasion see 
" Christopher Greene, Hero of Red Bank," by Mary A. Greene in 
the "American Monthly Magazine," Vol. II., No. 5, page 521. 



8 THE DIARY OF 

and we were ordered to tarry on the Ground 
till further orders last evening I had one man 
kill'd by our own people a Sentrie on the 
right of one of the picquets discovering one 
of the Sentries on the left of the other picquet 
which formed the line of Sentries and chaling- 
ing him he either did not hear or refused to 
Answer and the other Sentrie fired on him 
Shott him through his knee and he Expired 
very Soon there was a Considerable of firing 
between the sentries. 

August 29th, 1778. A Clear morning 
and Very Cool the ( ) Reed orders last 

evening to Strike their tents and march to the 
north end of the island, the advanced piquet was 
to come off at 12 oclock the enemy finding that 
we had left our ground pursued with all possible 
speed Come up with our piquet about sunrise 
and a smart firing begun, the piquet repulsed 
the Brittish troops 2 or 3 times but was finily 
obliged to retreat as the Enemy brought a 
number of field pieces against them the Enemy 
was soon check't by our Cannon in coming up 
to our main body and they formed on Quaker 
Hill and we took possession of Buttses Hill ' 

' Quaker Hill and Butts Hill are two hills in Portsmouth, R.I. 
They were both strategic points in the battle. For view of fort on 
lUitts Hill see my " Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island," 
opp. page 140. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN G ELL. 9 

the left wing of the brittish army was Compossed 
of the hessians who Attackt our right wing and 
a Sevear engagement Ensued in which the hes- 
sians was put to flight and beat of the ground 
with a Considerable loss our loss was not very 
great but I cannot assertain the number. I 
was ordered with my Regt to a Redoubt 
on a Small hill which the Enemy was a 
trying for and it was with Difficulty that we got 
there before the Enemy. I had 3 or 4 men 
kill'd and wounded to day at night I was or- 
dered with my Reg to lie on the lines I had not 
Slept then in two nights more than two or 
three hours the Reg* had eat nothing during the 
whole Day this was our sittuation to goe on 
guard, but we marched off Cheartully and took 
our post. 

August 30th. A Cloudy morning and the 
wind very high it rained a Considerable in the 
night the Enemy Remained on their Ground 
this morning two English friggats Came up 
yesterday to prevent our retreat but could do 
but little they Still Remained here. I was Re- 
lieved this morning and got Some provisions 
and being much worn ou*" for the want of sleep 
went to a hous and took a good knap there was 
a Cannonade kept up to day and Some small 
arms from the Sentries at nig-ht we Reed orders 



lO THE DIARY OF 

to Retreat off the Island which we did without 
the loss of anything, this Retreat was in Conse- 
quence of an Express from Genl Washington 
informing Gen Sullivan " that the Brittish Ships 
of war and transports had sailed from New 
York Some days before. 

August 31st, 1778. Our retreat off the 
Island was completed by three o'clock this 
morning it is Supos'd that the Enemy at- 
tempted a Retreat last Evening but after find- 
ing that we Had Retreated they Returned to 
their ground as it was late in the morning 
before they took possession of the torts we 
left one accident happened yesterdav was for- 
got to be mentioned in that days journal L' 
Arnold" of the artillery was killed accidentally 
as he had fired his Piece Stept off to see where 
the Shot Struck and Steping before the mussel 
of another Gun as the ofiicer gave the word 
fire the ball went through his body blo'd him 
too peaces his Body hung togeather by only 

^ See " General Sullivan — a Vindication of his Character as a 
Soldier and a Patriot," by Thomas C. Amory, Esq., of Boston. 
•' Hist. Magazine," 1866, Vol. X., Supplement No. VI. 

"The Military Services and Public Life of Major General John 
Sullivan," by Thomas C. Amory, Boston, Mass., 1868. 

" Biographical Sketch in General Sullivan's Indian Expedition, 
1779," Camden, N.Y., 1887. 

- Heitman's "Officers of the Continental Army " mentions Noyes 
Arnold (Mass.), 1st Lieutenant 3d Continental Artillery, 1st P"ebru- 
ary, 1777. Died 23 August, 1778. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. \\ 

the Skin of his belly, one Arm was blown Clear 
off After we had Crost at howlands ferry we 
Encampt about a mile from Sd. ferrv where we 
tarried this day at Night Rec'd orders to Strike 
our tents next morning and Embark on board 
our Boats and Land near Warren as Genl 
Varnums Brigade was to be stationed Between 
warren and Bristol. Genl Cornells ' at How- 
lands ferry Genl Glovers " at Providence Col. 
Com'!' Green at Warwick and Greenwich. 

September 1st, 1778. We embarked 
on board our Boats this morning at Seven 
oclock Agreeable to Last Evenings Orders 
and landed about ten o'clock at Kickamuit 
bridg ^ near warren where we lay waiting tor 
orders untill 4 oclock P.M. then marched to 
warren and pitched our tents and tarried that 
night this Day was Cloudy and Rained a little. 

September 2d, 1778. A Cloudy Cold 

' Ezekiel Cornell was a native of Scituate, R.I. In 1775 he was 
Lieutenant-Colonel of Hitchcock's Regiment in the Army of Obser- 
vation. He subsequently was elected Brigadier-General, and was 
actively engaged in the military affairs of the State up to May, 1 780, 
when his brigade was mustered out of service. He was subse- 
quently elected to Congress and served with the same honor in civil 
affairs as had characterized his conduct in the military atTairs of his 
native State. 

^ Gen. John Glover, of Massachusetts. He remained at Provi- 
dence until July 7, 1779. 

^ Kickamuit River lies to the east of Warren and Bristol. Kicka- 
muit Bridge crossed the river within Warren limits. 



12 THE DIARY OF 

morning it rain'd very hard part of the Night 
past we Rec'd orders last Evening to march 
this morning at 7 oclock but our waggons not 
Gumming up prevented our marching untill 
the Afternoon then we Struck our tents and 
marched off to Bristol there Encampt on Brad- 
fords hill. 

Sept. 3d. A very Cold morning for the 
Season Col Olney ' was much unwell with the 
ague in his face I sent a Boat to providence 
to day for Cloathing and at night I took com- 
mand of the piquet Nothing Extroardinary 
happen'd Except my writing this days journal 
in the manner I have jumping from one thing 

September 4th, 1778. An Exceeding 
Cold morning but Clear Col Olney set off tor 
Providence soon after breakfast as he was Ex- 
ceeding much unwell with ague in his face But 
nothing of consequence happen'd Dureing the 
day. 

' Jeremiah Olney (R.I.)> Captain of Hitchcock's Rhode Island 
Regiment, 3d May to December, 1775; Captain nth Continental 
Infantry, 1st January to 31st December, 1 776; Lieutenant-Colonel 2d 
Rhode Island, 13th January, 1777; transferred to 1st Rhode Island, 
1st January, 1781; Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant, 14th May, 
1781; served to close of war. (Died loth November, 181 2.) The 
1st Rhode Island Regiment, after May, 1781, was also known as 
Olney's Rhode Island Battalion. (Heitman's " Officers of the 
Continental Army.") P'or biographical and historical sketch and 
silhouette see "Olney Genealogy," page 32; Stone's " P'rench 
Allies," pages 448, 449. 



COLOXEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 13 

Do 5th, 1778. A cool morning Q;; Master 
Carpenter Came into Camp last Evening with 
Soine Cloathing for my Reg' and this, morning 
it was delt out to them, he allso brought 4 
Chists of Arms for my Reg. which we delt out 
to the troops and Returned in our old ones 
there was a flag went from providence to Rhode 
Island to day and another from our Encamp- 
ment went in by' the way of Bristol ferry.' 
there was Several Cannon fired to day but what 
fired at is not known. 

September 6th, 1778. Clear and hot 
this morning there was a firing of Cannon 
heard the night past and this morning there 
Came an Express from beadford ^ informing 

' A ferry formerly connected the mainland to the south of Bristol 
and the island of Rhode Island. The island end is now called Bris- 
tol ferry. 

^The attack on New Bedford was made on the evening of 
September 5, 1778, and before twelve o'clock the next day the 
British had destroyed " about seventy sail of vessels, many of them 
prizes taken by American privateers and several small craft; 
burned the magazine, wharves, stores, warehouses, vessels on the 
stocks, all the buildings at McPherson's wharf, the principal part of 
the houses at the head of the river, and the mills and houses at 
Fairhaven opposite." 

This expedition against New Bedford was instigated by Sir Henry 
Clinton, and was carried out by General Grey, who landed with a 
sufficient force upon Clark's Neck at the mouth of the river. 

After completing the depredations at New Bedford the marauders 
turned their attention to Martha's Vineyard, where they inflicted 
some damage and obtained large quantities of provisions for the 
army and fleet. 



14 THE DIARY OF 

US that the brittish troops had landed and burnt 
beadford I dind with the Marquis de La 
ffiat and while we was at the table there Came 
another Express with four Deserters from bead- 
ford informing us that all the houses and 
Stores and Shipping were Destroyed at Bead- 
ford and that the troops were all Embarked on 
board of their Ships while I was at the Mar- 
quises my brother Jason ' Came to me and 
brought the agreeable news that my family and 
friends were all well he set off" for home in 
the Evening. 

Sept. 7th, 1778. fine pleasant weather 
this morning I sent all my spare guns to the 
Store at providence in a boat by water allso 
sent a Serj'^ and a file of men to pawtuxet and 
Cranston after some Deserters who Deserted 
from me at the westward wrote Several letters 
which took up the forenoon I din'd with Gen 
Varnum and in the afternoon went on Duty 
taking the Command of the piquet at night we 
Reed orders to Move Boats enough round 
into warren river to move the Brigade over at 
once this order Come from Genl Sullivan and 
by the time we had got the men paraded the 
order was Countermanded. 



'Jason Angell, born Oct. 7, 1748; married Caroline Jenckes, 

daughter of Dr. John; their children were Oliver, Jenckes, Naomi, 
and Jason. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 1 5 

Sept. 8th, 1778. Clear hot and Dry 
weather. A number of Cannon was heard to 
day and last night at a great distance to the 
Eastward but no intelligence where Col. 
Greene Came here to day from Greenwich but 
brought no news, neither was there any thing 
Extraordinary happend during the Day L' 
Dexter of my Reg. was Tri'd to day for dis- 
obediance of orders. 

Sept. 9th, 1778. A thick Cloudy Morn- 
ing (^ Master Carpenter went for providence 
this morning to procure some Cloathing for 
my Reg', it begun to rain about noon and was 
an Exceeding Rainy afternoon and Rained 
great part of the night but Cleared off before 
Day and was pleasant I din'd yesterday at Genl 
Yarnums. 

Sept. 10th, 1778. A Clear and pleasant 
morning the Boat returned from Providence 
early in the morning but got but few of the 
Articals sent for. I took the Command of the 
Picket this Evening 4 or 5 of my men who 
was taken prisoners on Rhodeisland Returned 
this evening and Brought word that they were 
all Exchanged and the remainder were at Prov- 
idence and Ensign Viol was with them. 

Sept. 1 1th. A Clear and pleasant Morn- 
ing but nothing Remarkable happened the fore- 



1 6 THE DIARY OF 

noon I sent Benjamin King ' who had been 
a prisoner to my hous in Johnston and to 
major Fenners on business in the afternoon the 
brigade turned out and marched to Bristol 
town and manouvered on the Common by the 
Meeting hous one of my Regt and one of Col 
Sherburnes Reg was flog'd this Evening. 

Sept. 12th, 1778. A Coald raw morning 
Cap Hughes Came " to Camp last Evening and 

' Benjamin King, Corporal in Major Thayer's Company of 
Angell's Regiment. 

^Tliomas Hughes (as the name is invariably spelled in the Family 
Bible), only son of Joseph and Mary Hughes, was born May 3, 
1752. The place of his birth is not now known, but family tradition 
states the family was of Scotch-Irish descent. In the Rhode Island 
Colonial Records (Vol. X., pp. 412 and 413) he is mentioned as of 
Freetown, Mass. There is some evidence to show that his father 
may have been Dr. Joseph Hughes (or Hewes), who removed from 
Attleborough, Mass., to Providence shortly before the Revolution. 
Thomas Hughes' name first appears upon the public records in 
October, 1776, as Second Lieutenant of Col. Israel Angell's Battal- 
ion (Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., p. 11), and he was 
among the officers recommended by General Washington to the 
Rhode Island General Assembly for the new establishment of the 
Continental Army, in the same month and year. (Rhode Island 
Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., p. 36.) He was chosen, in February, 
1777, to be First Lieutenant, and at sometime between August and 
October, 1777, was raised to the rank of Captain. He served with 
Colonel Angell's Regiment throughout the war. In 1791 the Rhode 
Island General Assembly appointed Col. Jeremiah Olney and Capt. 
Thomas Hughes agents for the Proprietors of the Anaquacut Farm 
in Tiverton, which was set off to the officers and soldiers of the late 
Continental Battalion, commanded by Colonel Angell. These agents 
successfully petitioned the General Assembly to make up a con- 
siderable deficiency demanded of them by the purchasers to whom 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 1/ 

lodged with me the night past. We all turned 
out this morning at Revele Beating agreeable 

they sold the land, and a resurvey was consequently ordered. 
Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. X., pp. 412, 413, and 437.) 

Captain Hughes married Feb. 27, 1782, Welthian (born Nov. 
19, 1757, died 1844), eldest child of Col. Christopher and Anne 
(Lippitt) Greene, of Centreville, Warwick, R.I. 

The children of Thomas and Welthian Hughes were: 

1. Mary, born Jan. 4, 1783; married Burrovys Aborn and had 
eight children., all of whom died unmarried. 

2. Christopher Greene, born July 9, 1785; died at New Orleans, 
La., July 22, 1815. (A sea captain.) 

3. Phebe, born Sept. i, 1787; married her mother's own cousin, 
Jeremiah, son of (Judge) William and Welthian (Lippitt) Greene, 
of Occupasnetuxet, Warwick, R.I. Her issue are the only living 
descendants of Thomas Hughes. 

4. Katy, born Aug. 16, 1789; died in infancy. 

5. Sally, born Dec. 15, 1790; died unmarried. 

6. Elizabeth, born Feb. 2, 1792; died in infancy. 

7. John Luther, born Nov. 2, 1 795 ; died Jan. 14, 1863. 

John Luther Hughes was u prominent merchant and manufact- 
urer in Rhode Island, and as a member of the Common Council of 
the city of Providence was actively instrumental in devising, fram- 
ing, and establishing the present public-school system of the city. 
He was the first Secretary of the Rhode Island Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance Company. His residence, at the corner of Washington and 
Greene streets, has recently been demolished in order to place the 
new Public Library upon its site, a fate most certain to have been 
pleasing to one of his retined literary taste and public spirit. He 
married Eliza Whiting, and had several children, all of whom died 
young. 

Thomas Hughes served throughout the War of 1812 with the 
rank of Major. He died Dec. 10, 1821, at his home at Centreville, 
R.I., in the northwestern part of the town of Warwick, and was 
buried in the family burying-ground on the farm of his brother-in- 
law. Col. Job Greene, near by. 

In April, 1896, this burying-ground was abandoned and the bodies 
removed to Greenwood Cemetery, Phenix, R.I., including the re- 



1 8 THE DIARY OF 

to Gen Orders M' Consider Luther ' came to 
Camp this day a little past Noon and brought 
me word from my family that they was all well 
the Evening before and Saw old M"" Richard 
Waterman ^ at my hous Who informed him 
that their family was well M' Luther Din'd at 
my Marquee then went home nothing Extraor- 
dinary happened during the day. 

Sept. 13th, 1778. A Cloudy Cold raw 
morning with the wind at Northeast but soon 
broake away and was a pleasant Day the Bri- 

mains of Major Hughes, his wife, and maiden daughter, Sally. A 
marker of the Sons of the American Revolution has been placed at 
his grave, his being among the first fifty names drawn by lot by the 
Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for 
the purpose of marking the graves. 

Thomas Hughes was a small, wiry man, with reddish hair and 
blue eyes, of great energy and considerable executive ability. No 
living descendant is left to bear the name of Hughes, three grand- 
children and six great-grandchildren of his daughter Phebe being 
all that remain of the family. 

(Contributed by Miss Mary A. Greene, one of the great-grand- 
children of Phebe Hughes Greene.) 

Hughes, Thomas (R.I.), 2d Lieutenant nth Continental In- 
fantry, 1st January to 31st December, 1776; ist Lieutenant 2d 
Rhode Island, ist January, 1777; Captain, 23d June, 1777; trans- 
ferred to 1st Rhode Island, 1st January, 1781, and served to close 
of war. (Heitman's "Officers of the Continental Army.") 

' Consider Luther was a near neighbor; he died in 1814. 

* Probably Richard Waterman, Jr., a great-grandson of the 
first Waterman and son of Esquire Richard and Abigail (Angell) 
Waterman, of Providence. He was born June i, 1 701, and lived 
in Cranston; the date of his death is not known, but in 1763 he 
was serving his fifth term as a member of the Town Council of 
Cranston. 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 19 

gade marched to bristol town to the Meating 
hous' to attend Divine Servis when M' 
Thompson " ChapHn to the Brigade preached 
a sermon to the same, in the afternoon there 
was a funeral near the Camp at the hous where 

' Probably the Congregational Meeting-house, the Baptist Meet- 
ing-house having been destroyed by the British May 25, 1778. 
For more than thirty years this church was under the pastorate of 
the Rev. John Burt. At the time of the British attack on Bristol, 
Oct. 7, 1775, Parson Burt, with others of the inhabitants, fled from 
the town; on the following morning he was found " lying dead upon 
his face in the midst of a held of ripened corn." 

^ Rev. CharlesThompson, the valedictorian of the first graduating 
class of Rhode Island College (now Brown University), and of which 
class General Varnum was a member, was ordained to the pastoral 
charge of the Baptist Church at Warren, July 3, 1771. He was born 
at Amvvell, N.J., April 14, 1 748, and was thus at the time of taking the 
pastorate twenty-three years of age. His ministry was eminently 
successful and the church increased in membership until the break- 
ing-out of the war, when its effect was sorely felt. He was appointed 
a Chaplain in the Continental Army, which position he held until the 
year 1778, when, being at his home on the occasion of the British 
attack on Warren, he was captured and taken a prisoner to New- 
port, where he was confined for about a month and then released, 
but for what reason he never knew. ("A Discourse delivered at the 
Dedication of the New Church Edifice of the Baptist Church and 
Society, Warren, by Rev. Josiah P. Tustin, p. 129.") Charles Thomp- 
son, A.M. ; ordained Baptist clergyman, 1771; preacher, Warren, 
R.I., 1770-71; pastor, 1771-75; Chaplain Continental Army, 1775- 
78; preacher, Ashford, Conn., 1778-79; pastor, Swansea, Mass., 
1779-1802; resident, Charlton, Mass., 1802-03; trustee Brown Uni- 
versity, 1 795-1803. Born Amwell,N.J., April 14, 1748; died Charl- 
ton, Mass., May 4, 1803. (Historical Catalogue, Brown University, 
1 764-1894, p. 27.) " Among the prisoners (taken at Warren) were 
the Rev. Mr. Thompson, of Warren; Major Martindale, Mr. Edward 
Church, and a number of young men belonging to this town." (Fleet 
S. Greene's Diary, in " Historical Magazine," Vol. IV., p. 70.) 



20 THE DIARY OF 

Gen Varnum Quartered it was an Antient 
Woman mother of Capt Bradford ' who owned 
the land we were Encampt on 

Sept. 14th. A clear morning and noth- 
ing l\xtraordinary happened during the Day at 
night I was the officer of the picquet and had 
a plesant time to Visit the Guards Col. Ol- 
ney's boy Come into Camp to day the Col set 
off but meeting Col Sherburne" & Maj Hunt- 
ington turned back as I had sent a boat for 
Cloathing. 

Sept. 1 5th. A Clear Cool and plesant 
morning and Nothing Extraordinary happened 
During the day. I spent part of the Afternoon 
on poposquash -' in the Evening L' Col Olney 
Come into Camp from Providence and brought 

' Mrs. Priscilla Bradford died Sept. 12, 1778, at the age of 
eighty-five years. 

* Henry Sherburne was appointed Major of the first battalion 
of infantry raised in October, 1776, agreeable to an Act of Congress. 
Soon after he was recommended by General Washington to the Gen- 
eral Assembly of Rhode Island for a commission as Major for the 
new establishment. In May, 1777, he was Colonel of one of the 
sixteen battalions raised by order of Congress, Dec. 27, 1 776. 
These regiments or battalions were known by the name of their 
respective colonels. 

•* This name, Poppasquash, like all Indian names, has been 
spelled in many ways. In various books and deeds we find Pop- 
pasquash, Pappasquash, Pappossescpiaw, Pappasqua, and Poppy- 
.Squash. The weight of authority seems to be in favor of the first 
form. Respecting its derivation, no satisfactory information can be 
given. (Note in Munro's " History of Bristol," p. 66.) 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL,. 21 

news that it was Supos'd that the Enemy was 
a coming this way and that three Brigades of 
our troops was on their way here. 

Sept. 16th. A pleasant morning OJ 
Master Whittlesey ' Returned from Providence 
this morning with 30 Blankets for the Regt 
and a quantity of Shoes and Stockins and 
westcots which we Imeditly Delt out to the 
troops there was one Chist of Arms Come 
which supplied Each man in the Reg with a 
good fire lock we Rec'd orders this day to 
march from the Ground we were now En- 
camped upon and Encamp about one mile and 
a half above warren ^ but it being late in the 
day before the Ground Could be Laid out we 
Rec'' after orders to remain in our present En- 
campment. 

Sept. 17th. It begun to Storm last Even- 
ing and has bin an Exceeding Stormy Night 
with the wind at Northeast and this morning 
the Storm rather seemed to increase the wind 
rising and raining Exceeding hard and Con- 

' Nathan Whittlesey, Q.M.S. in Capt. William Tew's Com- 
pany, 1779. 

'^ One regiment was encamped upon the field immediately south 
of the rocks, upon the summit of Windmill or Graves Hill, where 
are still to be seen the levelled and graded places where their tents 
were pitched. The following winter the troops stationed in War- 
ren were quartered in stores upon the wharves and in private dwell- 
ings. (Fessenden's " History of Warren," 1845, p 98.) 



22 THE DIARY OF 

tinned Stormey all the Day Which prevented 
our marching to the Ground alotted for us by 
yesterdays orders I din'd with Gen. Varnum 
and Spent Great part of the afternoon with the 
General. 

Sept. 18th. A clear morning but Soon 
Clowded over we Struck our tent about 7 or 8 
o'clock in the morning and marched off it Soon 
thickened up and rained a little we marched 
through Warren about one mile to the ground 
we entended to Camp upon and it set in to 
raining very hard but we Soon had all our tents 
pitched this proved to be the Clearing up 
Shower for it soon cleared off and was fine 
weather during the afternoon. 

Sept. 19th, 1778. A Clear morning and 
very pleasant 1 was much unwell this morning 
being taking last evening with Cold Agurey fits 
pain in my head I kept in Camp this day. 

Sept. 20th. A Clear pleasant warm morn- 
ing I was Some better this morning thin I was 
yesterday and after breakfast sent a billet to the 
Gen' to know if he would let me go home for 
a day or two which he granted and after Dining 
set off taking Doctor Cornelius ' and my boy 

' Elias Cornelius (R.I.)i Surgeon's Mate 2d Rhode Island, ist 
January, 1777; taken prisoner at Staten Island, 22d August, 1777; 
escaped from prison ship in March, 177S; rejoined his regiment and 
served to ist January, 1781. (Died 13th June 1823.) (Heitman's 
♦'Officers of the Continental Army.") 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 2$ 

with me and ariv'd at my own hous before Sun- 
set and found my family all well. 

21st Sept. A fine plesant morning Ben- 
jamin Luther ' Came to my house very early 
this morning for the Doctor to come and see 
his child which was very sick the Doctor went 
and returned by a little after sunrise and got his 
breakfast then went on for Providence from 
thence to Camp where he had Engaged to be 
by ten o'clock in the forenoon my Riding hurt 
me I was not so well as I was yesterday Benja- 
min Luthers child was thought to be a dying 
about twelve o'clock the neighbours was Calld 
in, my wife and myselfe went over but the 
Child had fits and lived the day out, in the 
Evening I sent my hors and boy to Doctor 
Slacks^ to git him to Come and see M'' Luthers 
Child. 

Sept. 22d. A warm morning and Some 
foggy about half past 4 oclock Mrs Usher ^ 
Come and called up me and my wife to go over 
to Benjamin Luthers for their child was a dying 
we went as soon as possible but the Child was 

' He was a son of Consider Luther. 

* Dr. Benjamin Slack came from Massachusetts about 1750, and 
was a physician of considerable note in the towns in northern 
Rhode Island. He commanded the Captain General's Cavaliers 
during the Revolution. 

^ Mrs. Freelove Usher, daughter of Consider Luther. 



24 THE DIARY OF 

dead before v/e got there I went home and tar- 
ried there the forenoon after dinner went to 
Landlord Fisks ' from thence to Mr Luther 
then home I saw Doctor Fisk" at the Land- 
lords who informed me that Byrans fleet had 
arrived part in Newport he himself was there. 

Sept. 23d, 1788. A Cloudy morning and 
Rained some in the forenoon but the Storm 
begun to increase about noon I and my wife 
went to burying at Benjamin Luthers and ime- 
adetly after we got there it set in to raining very 
hard and Stormed all the afternoon and after 
Buring was over we returned home and Elder 
Samuel Windsor Com to my hous and tarried 
all Night he and Elder Hopkins both Spoke 
at the funeral. 

' Joseph Fisk, son of Joseph, kept a tavern for many years in 
the town of Johnston, on the Plainfield Pike, near the Scituate 
Hne. During the war he was a Corporal in the Captain General's 
Cavaliers, a military company made up of men mostly belonging to 
the town of Johnston. He died June i8, 1793. An inventory of 
the tavern furnishings is in Providence Probate Records (Johnston), 
Vol. I., p. 268. 

* Caleb Fisk was a prominent physician and landholder in Cran- 
ston, R7I. He lived on the Voluntown road, near Bald Hill, in 
Scituate, in a house still standing. He was the son of John and 
Elizabeth Fisk, and was born Feb. 24, 1753^ He was President of 
the Rhode Island Medical Society, and left that Society a bequest 
tif $2,000. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 25 



PART TWO. 



THE time included in the second part of 
the diary is from December 12, 1778, to 
February 11, 1779, and details the happenings 
during the severe winter while the regiment 
was encamped at Warren, Rhode Island. 

December 12th, 1778. A Clear Cold 
morning after breakfast I sett of for the Camp 
at Warren Stopt Some time in Providence. 
Arrived in Warren in the Evening and found all 
well N.B, Ingaged to take the paper one Q"".' 

Decern. 13th, 1778. A Cold Stormy 
morning and Continued Storming all the day 
but Nothing Remarkable happened During 
the Day. 

14th. it wet a little this morning but Soon 
Cleared off and was Cold nothing Remarkable 
happened this Day. 

15th. Clear and Very Cold there was one 
Circumstance I forgot to mention in yester- 
days Journal That is Birans Fleet Sail'd that 

' Probably "The I'rovidence Gazette and Country Journal." 



26 THE DIARY OF 

day from Rhode Island ' Lt Col Olney & 
Major Simeon Thayer^ Sett off this afternoon 
for Providence, attended a general Court Mar- 
tial of the Line. The G^Vi Gave orders yes- 
terday for a number of men to be furloughed 
to day which kept me employed part of the 
day in writing furloughs thus Ended the day 

16th Dec. 1778. A fine and pleas- 
ant Day A garrison Court Martial Set this 
day for the trial of two villains for attempt- 
ing to Commit a Rape upon a ould woman 

'"On the sixth of January, 1779, Admiral Byron's fleet, which 
had been so long expected, arrived at St. Lucie, just eight days after 
the departure of Count d'Estaing; and had it not been detained in the 
harbour of Newport at Rhode Island by contrary winds and stormy 
weather for fourteen days after it was ready to sail, it is probable, 
either that the retreat of the Count d'Estaing to Martinique would 
have been cut off, or that a general engagement must have been 
risked in order to effect it." (Stedman's " History of the American 
War" (Brit.), Vol. II., p. 91.) 

''Thayer, Simeon (R.I.), Captain-Lieutenant of Hitchcock's 
Rhode Island Regiment, 3d May, 1775 ; taken prisoner at Quebec, 
31st December, 1775; exchanged, ist July, 1777; Major 2d Rhode 
Island, to rank from 1st January, 1777; wounded (lost an eye) at 
Monmouth, 28th June, 1778; retired 1st January, 1781. (Died 
14th October, iSoo.) (Heitman's "Officers of the Continental 
Army.") For account of his services in expedition to Quebec, 
where he was captured, also a roll of his company, see Rhode 
Island Historical Society Collection, Vol. VI., pp. i, 102, and 
Appendices, where his death is stated October 21. See also Cow- 
ell's "Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," p. 283; Providence Town 
Papers in possession of the city of Providence; Military Papers in 
Rhode Island Historical Society; and Revolutionary Rolls in office 
Secretary of State, Rhode Island. 



COLONEL LSRAKL AXGELL. 2^ 

near four score their names were Perce & Pil- 
lars my Sergt Maj"" Proctor' was to be trid 
allso for forging a pass in my name the Court 
mett and adjourned untill the next day So the 
day ended with Nothing remarkable. 

17th Dec. A Clowdy morning and Soon 
begun to Storm and was an Exceeding Stormy 
Afternoon, the Court finished the trials of 
Richard Perce who was ordered to Receave lOO 
Strips John Pillar to Receive 37. John Ex- 
ceen ' 20 but he was forgiven there Come 
News to day That U. Chapin with Six Men 
took a Brigg From Rhode Island laden with 
Forrag and Some Small matter of Spirits, the 
Brigg was about one hundred and thirty or 
forty tuns burthen and 13 hands on board.-' 

beer. 18th, 1778. A Clear and Pleas- 
ant morning and was a Remarkable warm day 
for the Season Nothing Remarkable happened 

' Willianj Proctor. See Cowell's " Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," 
p. 191; also Revolutionary Rolls in office Secretary of State. 

2 John Exceen, private in Capt. William Tew's Company of Col. 
Israel Angell's Regiment. 

3 This was the exploit of Lieut. Seth Chapin, of Col. Henry 
Sherburne's Regiment, in capturing in Rhode Island waters a British 
brig bound to New York. The expedition, consisting of Lieutenant 
Chapin and six men, embarked in a whale-boat from Little Compton, 
and by a bold stroke, without the loss of a life, took in the east pas- 
sage the vessel and all her crew, including a lady passenger, the 
wife of Sir Guy Johnston. The whole party was safely landed at 
.Seaconnet. 



2 8 THE DIARY OF 

at Roll Call those prisoners under Sentance of 
punishment ' reed it Agreeable to the Sentence 
of the Court Except the last who I pardoned. 

Deer. 19th. A fine pleasant [ ] 

as ever was known at the Season of the year 
and nothing materal happened I dind with 
Genl Varnum's Lady ^ there was a Small Dis- 
pute happened between Lt Thomas Water- 
man ^ of my Reg' and a L' in Col Webbs ^ 

' The general form of punishment in the army was with the lash, 
although in some cases offenders were hung and others shot. In 
chastising a culprit he was iirst stripped to the waist and then 
securely tied to a tree or post, then the chastiser stepped forward 
and'with a whip, formed of several small knotted cords, applied the 
prescribed number of lashes. " It was always the duty of the 
drummers and fifers to inflict the chastisement," and the drum-majur 
was required to attend and see that the duty was faithfully per- 
formed. (Thatcher's " Military Journal," page i86.) 

* Gen. James M. Varnum married Martha Childs, the eldest 
daughter of Cromwell Childs, of Warren, R.I. She died at Bristol, 
Oct. lo, 1837, ^'^ ^^ ^%^ of eighty- eight years. They were married 
by the Rev. James Manning, Feb. 8, 1770. 

^ Thomas Waterman (R. I.), Ensign 2d Rhode Island, 1st Jan- 
uary, 1777; 2d Lieutenant, nth February, 1777; Regimental Adju- 
tant, loth August, 1777; dismissed ist May, 1780. (Heitman's 
" Officers of the Continental Army.") A list of officers and privates 
in Colonel Angell's Regiment who have died or been honorably 
discharged contains the name Thomas Waterman, lieutenant. 
(See Cowell's " Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," p. 195.) He was a 
son of Lieut. John Waterman, Quartermaster of (general Varnum's 
Brigade, who died at Valley Forge, 1778; his grave is the only 
marked grave now remaining in that historic locality ; a commission 
has been appointed by the General Assembly of Rhode Island, and 
an appropriation made, to erect a monument at the spot. 

^Samuel Blatchey Webb (Conn.), ist Lieutenant 2d Connecti- 
cut, ist May, 1775; wounded at Bunker Hill, 17th June, 1775; Major 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 29 

Regt concerning Rank on which Lt waterman 
was ordered to Consider himself under an arrist 
by Capt Williams ' of s'^ Regt. but they con- 
cluded to leave the matter to me and Maj 
Huntingdon. 

20th Dec. A fine pleasant morning and 

and Aide-de-Camp to General Putnam, 22d July, 1775; Lieutenant- 
Coloneland Aide-de-Camp to General Washington, 21st June, 1776; 
wounded at Trenton, 2d January, 1777; Colonel of one of the six- 
teen additional Continental regiments, llth January, 1777; taken 
prisoner on the expedition to Long Island, loth December, 1777, 
and was a prisoner of war on parole until exchanged, December, 
1780; transferred to 3d Connecticut, ist January, 1781; Brevet 
Brigadier-General, 30th September, 1783, and served to 13th Novem- 
ber, 1783. (Died 3d December, 1817.) (Heitman's "Officers of 
the Continental Army.") If he was not in service during the time 
covered by this journal the regiment still bore his name. 

The sixteen additional Continental regiments were raised by 
the resolve of Congress, Dec. 27, 1776, and were known by the 
name of their respective colonels. Webb's Regiment, which was 
at this time a part of Varnum's Brigade, had the following field 
officers : 

Col. Samuel B. Webb, 1st January, 1777, to 1st January, 1781; 
Lieut. -Col. William S. Livingston, 1st January, 1777, to loth October, 
1778; Lieut. -Col. Ebenezer Huntington, loth October, 1778, to 1st 
January, 1781; Major Ebenezer Huntington, 1st January, 1777, to 
loth October, 1778; Major John P. Wyllys, loth October, 1778, 
to ist January, 1781. This regiment was transferred to the Conti- 
nental line Jan. i, 1781, and was known as the Third Connecticut 
Regiment. 

' Samuel W. Williams (Conn.), 2d Lieutenant 6th Connecticut, 
1st May to i8th December, 1775; 1st Lieutenant of Webb's addi- 
tional Continental Regiment, 1st January, 1777; Captain, 23d 
March, 1778; transferred to 3d Connecticut, ist January, 17S1; 
retired ist January, 1783. (Heitman's "Officers of the Continental 
Army.") 



30 THE DIARY OF 

very warm but soon Clouded over and con- 
tinued the greatest part of the day after break- 
fast I rode to Bristol with Gen Varnum after 
looking round and Viewing a Ship of war which 
had come up against the upper End of the 
Island Supposd to have come to releave one 
of the Enemys Ships that had Lain there some 
time but she had not gone they lay both to- 
geather I arrived at my own Quarters by one 
oclock & Dined with Capt Stephen Olney ' 
nothing Remarkable happened further this day. 
Deer. 21, 1778. A very fine day and 
nothing Remarkable happened Gen Varnum 
went for Providence in the morning we Got 

' Stephen Olney (R.I.)» Ensign of Hitchcock's Rhode Island 
Regiment, 3d May to December, 1775; ist Lieutenant nth Conti- 
nental Infantry, ist January to 31st December, 1776; ist Lieutenant 
2d Rhode Island, ist January, 1777; Captain, nth February, 1777; 
wounded, at Springfield, 23d June, 1780; retained in Consolidated 
or 1st Rhode Island Regiment, 1st January, 17S1; wounded at 
Yorktown, 14th October, 17S1; resigned ist May, 1782. (Died 
23d November, 1832.) (Heitman's "Officers of the Continental 
Army.") Also Ensign in John Angell's Company, Army of Obser- 
vation, 1775. See also " Lives of Barton and Olney," lay Catherine 
Williams; Cowell's " Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," pp. 236, 237 ; 
Stone's " French Allies," pp. 440-444, where is also a muster roll of 
his company at Yorktown, p. 445, and a portrait, p. 440; biographi- 
cal and genealogical sketch and portrait in Olney Genealogy, p. 
42. His grave is in the old family graveyard on the farm where 
he died in North Providence, and is marked by a handsome slate 
stone on which is inscribed at length his service during the war. 
An iron marker of the Sons of the American Revolution was 
placed upon his grave in September, 1895, by the editor. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 3 I 

one guard hous finished to day At night it 
Clowded over and in the Evening begun to 
rain. 

22d Dec, 1778. A Cold and uncomfort- 
able Morning it cleared of in the night with 
Snow about over Shoe it Continued an Exceed- 
ing Cold day and Nothing remarkable hap- 
pened Gen' Sullivan Sent an order ' for all the 
Musicians to attend at Providence as the Band 
belong'd to Col. Webbs Regt. Major Hun- 
tington put himself in a most violent passion 
on the mater Swore the order was a dam'd ras- 
cally one if the Gen', did give it. 

23d Dec. it still Continues Extreme Cold 

' General Order, 22 December, 1778. . . . "The Musicians 
of General Varnum's and Colonel Jackson's Bands to repair immedi- 
ately to Head Quarters with their Instruments, Blankets and neces- 
sary Baggage for Tarrying one Week. 

"The Commanding Officers of General Varnum's Brigade, and 
of Colonel Jackson's Detachment will send with them the best 
Drum and Fife from each Band. General Glover's Brigade to fur- 
nish two good Drums, and Fifes. 

"The Barrack Master immeaditly to furnish a good convenient 
Room for those Musicianers. 

" Major Flagg will attend them at such Times as he may think 
proper; and instruct them in Musick. 

" The Commissary will supply them with Provisions, and One 
Jill of West India Rum per Day and more when he may find it 
Necessary. 

"The Quarter Master will immeadiately furnish the necessary 
cooking Utentials for the Bands. 

"The Adjutant General to forward Copies of these Orders to 
Warren, and Pawluxet immeadiately." 



32 THE DIARY OF 

I Sent a boat to Updikes new town ' today for 
to get 200 pair of Shoes. 

24th Deer., 1778. This morning was 
Extreme Cold the river in Warren was all froze 
over I sent to the barracks as soon as it was 
light to inform them that they need not turn 
out, as I was sure that they must freeze I had 
orders from the Genl to send a boat to Provi- 
dence but the river being froze over was 
obliged to send a waggon won fortunate circum- 
stance happen'd a Gentleman from beadford 
Come to Camp and brought 288 pair of shoes 
Which I bought for my Reg* at 25 shillings 
p"" Pair, which Amounted to 1 200 Dollars So 
ended the Day as Sevear as it begun on cir- 
cumstance I forgot to mention that is Two 
of Col" Livingstons men froze to death two 
nights past on Prudence Island they got lost 
a coming from Providence in a boat bound to 
Bristol in a Snow Storm there was Six in the 
Boat two perished the others survived. 

December 25th, 1778. An extreme Cold 
Day I dind with Parson Thompson the day 
Ended with nothing Remarkable Capt Tew ^ 
and lady arrived in Garrison. 

' The present village of Wickford, in North Kingstown. 

* William Tew (R.I), Captain nth Continental Infantry, ist 
January to 31st December, 1776; Captain 2d Rhode Island, ist 
January, 1777; retired ist January, 1781. (Heitman's "Officers of 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. H 

26th Dec, 1778. A most tremendous 
Stormy morning with dry Snow and a Violent 
high wind from the N. E, which continued the 
whole day and if I Ever saw one Storm 
worse than another this was the worst it being 
Extream Cold, never known Colder." 

27th Deer. Sevear and Cold but the 
Storm had Ceast in the night and it cleared away 
to day the Soldiers barracks many of them 
were almost blown full of snow the Day Ended 
with nothing Remarkable Except [ ] 

was Drifted so there was no stiring. 

28th Dec., 1778. A fine clear morning 

the Continental Army.") Captain Tew was a son of James and 
Anne (Arnold) Tew, of Newport, R.I., and was born April 5, 1745. 
He married Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Wilson, and died Oct. 31, 
1808. At the time of his death he was a member of the Legisla- 
ture of Rhode Island, President of the Newport Town Council, and 
a member of the " Society of the Cincinnati." He followed the 
business of a clothier in Newport. 

' This was the storm known then and since as the " Hessian 
snow-storm," during which a great many German and British sol- 
diers were frozen to death; the date of its occurrence is given as 
December 12 and 22, but from this journal it appears that this 
extreme weather continued until the 28th. 

" Dec. 28 (177S), upwards of fifty people are said to have per- 
ished, chiefly soldiers, in a very heavy snow-storm which begun on 
the 25th, in the evening, and continued to morning; among which, 
one Hessian captain, two of the Anspach soldiers, and others." 
(Diary of Fleet S. Greene, Newport, in " Historical Magazine," i860, 
p. 136, Vol. IV.) Abiftl Weaver, a private in Captain William Tew's 
Company, was badly frozen while on sentry duty and was an invalid 
thereafter. 



34 THE DIARY OF 

but very Cold Col Olney arrived in Camp 
about ten o'clock after freezing his feet some 
he left Providence yesterday about 9 oclock 
and had likd to have perished in crossing the 
ferry ' Maj Thayer arrived a little after Sunset. 

29th Dec. A Pleasant day and nothing 
Remarkable happened. 

30th Dec. Pleasant this day being a day 
Set a part for thanks Giving " I and Major 
Thayer went out into the Country to Capt 
Ebenezer Pecks •^ in Rehoboth there Din'd 
and returnd to Camp in the Evening. 

31st Dec, 1778. A fine day and nothing 
Remarkable happened I was president of a 
Court martial, 

' The lower ferry, or the ferry at Tockwotten, as it was more 
generally known, was the most in use at this time ; it was operated 
by Caleb Fuller, and was sometimes called Fuller's Ferry. For 
sometime previous to 1777 it was closed to the public, for the 
small-pox was raging in the town and one of the hospitals was 
located near the ferry. But at this period it was in operation, and 
had been for some time. (See Providence Town Papers, 1205, 1207, 

1353. 15059)- 

^ " In 1778 Congress appointed both a spring fast, April 22, 
and an autumn Thanksgiving, December 30." This day (Decem- 
ber 30) was observed, also, as a day of thanksgiving by the 
authorities in the States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. (See "Fast and Thanksgiving 
Days of New England," pp. 344 and 504.) 

^ Ebenezer Peck, " a man of public influence and distinction," 
then living in the northeasterly part of Rehoboth, near Great 
Meadow Hill, on a branch of the Palmer River. He had a son, 
Ebenezer, who died in the army. (Peck Genealogy, p. 49.) 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 35 

January 1st, 1778 [1779]. fine weather 
still continues the Court martial met to day at 
9 oclock agreeable to adjournment & Proceeded 
to business this day we received the Melen- 
cully news of a great number of Semen a per- 
ishing in the late Storm on the Eastern shore 
one privateer from this place was lost one man 
and his team of five cattle all perished on Boston 
Neck ' and three French gentlemen who had 
been out into Roxbury and returning to boston 

2d January, 1779. A fine plesant day 
the Court Martial finished their business and 
adjourned without time. 

3d January. A Clowdy day my Regt 
was mustered to day at Eight oclock in the 
morning Nothing Remarkable happened it 
rained a little in the afternoon 

4th January. A Clowdy raw day in my 
journal of the first day of this month is men- 
tion'd the news of a mellencuUy affair happen- 
ing to the Eastward in the late Storm Since 
which we have got the Porticulars of what Suf- 
fered on board the General Stark ^ Priveteer 

' This does not refer to Boston Neck in southern Rhode Island, 
but at Boston, for under the date Dec. 28, 1778, General Heath, in 
his Memoirs, writes : " A waggoner, his horse and four oxen were 
found frozen to death near the dyke, on Boston Neck ; they perished 
in the severe cold storm on the preceding Saturday evening." 

^ In a statement of the shipping lost during the war, up to Jan. I, 
17S3, belonging to the inhabitants of Warren, is mentioned "Sloop 



36 THE DIARY OF 

and the prlveteer Called Gen' xlrnold ' the 
first mentioned vessel lost 19 men the last 73 
who all froze to death 1 furnished mv Regt to 
day with their new hatts all bound and they 
made a grand appearance on the Parade being 
as well cloathed as any troops in the Servis. 

5th January, 1779. A Clowdy Cold 
morning after breakfast Lt Col Olney went of 
for Tiverton being warned there for Court 
Martial but nothing remarkable happened dur- 
ing the Day. 

6th Jany. Tolerable good weather for 
winter Maj, Thayer went tor Providence today 
and about 8 o'clock in the evening Lt Col 
Olney Returned having finished the Business 
he went upon 

7th Janry. This day the proceedings 
of the Court Martial " where I was president 

General Stark (privateer) Pearce 120 tons." (See "History of 
Warren," Fessenden, Supplement, p. loi.) This vessel, in 1778, 
was the property of Nathan Miller antl others (see Rhode Island 
Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., p. 434). 

' The privateer " General Arnold " drove on shore near riymouth, 
and bilged ; eighty of the crew perished ; the survivors were much 
frost bitten. (Heath's Memoirs, p. 200.) 

''General Orders Providence 5th Janry, 1779. . . . "At 
a Brigade Court Martial held at Warren by order of Brigadier- 
General Varnum, of which Colonel Angell was President. Ensign 
Hamlin, of Colonel Samuel B. Webb's Regiment, Try'd for neglect 
of Duty, and absenting himself from the Garrison, without leave : 
Found Guilty, and sentenced to be discharged the service. The 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGEL.L. 37 

was made known as the Gen' had approv'd 

General approves the sentence and orders it to take place immeadi- 
ately. 

" Ensign PVothingham, Try'd by the same Court, for absenting 
himself from the Garrison, without leave: Found Guilty, and sen- 
tenced to be discharged the Army. The General approves the 
sentence: but upon the recommendation of the Court, restores him 
to his former Rank. 

" Lieutenant Price of Colonel Elliotts Regiment Try'd by the 
same Court, for absenting himself from the Garrison three Days 
without leave, and for associateing with the Waggon Master, and 
Forage Master of the Brigade : Found Guilty, and sentenced to be 
discharged the service. The General approves the sentence, and 
orders it to take place immeadiately. 

" Captain Loiseaux, and Lieutenant West of Colonel Living- 
stone's Regiment, Try'd by the same Court for behaving unbecoming 
the carracter of Gentlemen in fighting before the Soldiers, and for 
being Drunk: Captain Loiseaux found Guilty by the Court, and sen- 
tenced to be discharged the service. The General approves the 
sentence, and orders it to take place immeadiately. Lieutenant West 
is found not Guilty. The General orders him releas'd from his arrest. 

" Captain David Dexter of Colonel Angell's Regiment Try'd 
by the same Court, for leaving his Post on the 25"^ of De- 
cember 1778, and not returning 'till the 29"* for behaving unbe- 
coming the Carracter of an Officer, and a Gentleman, in frequently 
associateing, with the Waggon Master of the Brigade : P'ound 
guilty by the Court, and sentenced to be discharged the service. 

" The General approves the sentence, and orders it to take 
place immeadiately. 

"The Court Martial in consideration of Captain Dexter's long 
Services, and sufferings in the American cause, and the sense they 
have, of his bravery, and. activity, have recommended him, to be 
entitled, to the same priviledges, as those who are left out in the 
new arrangement of the Army. The commander in chief is sen- 
sibely mortified that he cannot by complying with the recommenda- 
tion of the Court, evince the regard he has for that Officer's former 
Services, Activity, and Bravery. The sentence being for a dismis- 
sion, and the recommendation, not for a restitution to his command. 



38 THE DIARY OF 

the Same Capt David Dexter ' was Discharg'd 
the Service, Capt Lorsoiux ^ of Col James 
Livingstons Regt was allso Dischd Lt Whillys 
of the same Regt Acquitted Ensigns Hamhn ^ 

he cannot possibly be intitled to any future Advantages; and the 
declareation of it in orders would be deem'd a nullity, and could 
have no good effect in his favour. 

" All the Field Officers in Town are desired to be at Head Quar- 
ters this evening at Six o'Clock." 

'David Dexter (R.I.), Ensign of Hitchcock's Rhode Island 
Regiment, 3d May to December, 1775; Captain of Babcock's 
Rhode Island Militia Regiment, 15th January, 1776; appointed 
Brigade-Major, 9th October, 1776; Captain 2d Rhode Island, nth 
February, 1777; deranged 1st April, 1779. (Heitman's "Officers 
of the Continental Army.") 

2 From General Orders, 5th December, 1778. "At a General 
Court Martial of which Colonel Angell was President : was tryed, 
Captain Augustus Loizcan, for Cutting a Tent, of Public Property, 
and making Knapsacks of it; for exchanging bad Firelocks for 
good ones out of Public Stores, and selling them, for stealing 
Soldiers Provision, speaking defamatory of the Officers, of Colonel 
Livingstone's Regiment; and for threating Lieutenant Nichols's 
Life; found Guilty, in part, and Sentenced to be dismis'd the 
Service : But, in consideration of his former sufferings, and Services 
in the American Cause, his Bravery, and former good Conduct, 
and upon the recommendation of the Court Martial, the Com- 
mander in Cheif, Orders him to be releas'd from his Arrest, and 
Orders him to return to his Duty." 

Loisau, Augustine (N.Y.), Captain ist Canadian (Livingston's) 
Regiment, i8th December, 1776, to rank from 20th November, 
1775; dismissed 5th January, 1779; name also spelled Loizeau and 
Loiseau. (Heitman's " Officers of the Continental Army.") 

^Daniel Hamlin (Conn.), Sergeant of Webb's additional Con- 
tinental Regiment, 24th May, 1777; Ensign, i6th May, 1778; dis- 
missed January, 1779. (Heitman's "Officers of the Continental 
Army.") 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 39 

and Frothingham ' both of Col S B Webs 
Regt Discharged the Servis but froathingham 
was Restored U Price ^ of Col Elliots Reg* of 
artillery Discharged in the Afternoon I set off 
for my own hous where I arrived just in the 
Evening 

8th January, 1779. Spent the Greatest 
part of the Day at home went and spent a few 
hours with Major Richard Fenner-^ Returned 
and in the Evening Ointed for the Itch which 
I had bin so unfortinate as to catch but where 
was unknown to me thus Ended the Day with 
the Devil of a Stink 

9th Janry. Clowdy raw and Cold to day 
and Soon begun to Storm and Snow'd Exceed- 
ing fast the greatist part of the afternoon at night 

' Ebenezer Frothingham (Conn.), Sergeant of Webb's Addi- 
tional Continental Regiment, 25th May, 1777; Ensign, 1 6th May, 
1778; Lieutenant, 26th May, 1779; Regimental Quartermaster, 27th 
May, 1779, to June, 1783; transferred to 3d Connecticut, ist Janu- 
ary, 1 781, and served to June, 1783; Lieutenant United States In- 
fantry Regiment, 15th July, 1785; Lieutenant 1st Infantry, United 
States Army, 29th September, 17S9; killed, 22d October, 1790, in 
action with Indians at the Miami Towns, near Old Chillicothe, Ohio. 
(Heitman's " Officers of the Continental Army.") 

^ Edward Price was 2d Lieutenant in Captain Sayer's Company, 
in Col. Robert Elliot's Regiment of Artillery. (Rhode Island Colo- 
nial Records, Vol. VIII. , p. 355.) 

^ Richard Fenner, Jr., Major of the first regiment of militia in the 
county of Providence; commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of same 
regiment May, 1779. (Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. VIIL, 
P- 533-536.) 



40 THE DIARY OF 

turned to rain I spent the day in the Neighbour- 
hood. 

10th Janry. A Rainy morning and Con- 
tinued thawing weather all the day I was not 
out of the Neighbourhood this day Nothing 
Remarkable happened this Day. 

1 1th Jany 1779. it Cleard ofF last night 
and was very Cold this morning & Continued 
growing Cold all the day I was to have 
gone to Providence to day but a number of 
people Comming in who had business with me 
prevented my going So Spent the day at home. 

12th Janry. A Clowdy Raw Cold morn- 
ing but much warmer than it was the fore part 
of the Evening past After I got my Breakfast 
set of for Providence by the way of Wainscoot ' 
and tarried at my fathers the night following 
Where I had the Pleasure of seeing all my 
Brothers and Sisters ' togeather Except my 
sister Whipple^ 

13th Jany. A Tolirable pleasant morning 
for winter after Breakfast I and my Brother 
Jason Sett of for Providence where I spent the 

' Wanskuck, near Providence. 

* Colonel Angel! had three brothers and two sisters: Hope An- 
gell, Jason Angell, Elisha Angell, Ruth Angell, and Naomi Angell. 
(Angell Genealogy, p. 80.) 

=* Naomi Angell married John Whipple. (Angell Genealogy, p. 
39) 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 4 1 

day. Capt Allen ' of my Reg*, was here and 
1^!^ men with him from my Reg* there was a 
hundred from the Brigade a going on Some 
privat Expedition Suppos'd with Talbut " to 
Stick Another feather in his Capp I heard no 
news of Consequence this day, at night I Re- 
turned to my own hous by 9 o'clock P.M. 

January 14th, 1779. An Exceeding 
Plesant day I Spent the day in the Neighbor- 
hood and nothing Remrkable Happened Isaac 
Angel 1 ' Come to See me today and I agreed 
with him to finish my hous 

Janry. 15th. An Exceeding Cold and 
Clowdy morning with Snow as it had Snow'd 
part of the night I went in Serch of Some 

' William Allen (R.I,)> '^t Lieutenant nth Continental Infantry, 
ist January to 31st December, 1776; ist Lieutenant 2d Rhode Island, 
1st January, 1777; Captain, 13th January, 1777; transferred to 1st 
Rhode Island, ist January, 1781 ; Brevet Major, 30th September, 
1783; served to 3d November, 1783. (Heitman's "Officers of the 
Continental Army.") 

* Col. Silas Talbot. In 1775 he was Captain in a company of the 
Army of Observation; October, 1777, promoted by Congress to the 
rank and pay of Major in the army, for " merit and services in a spirited 
attempt to set fire to one of the enemy's ships-of-war in the North 
River, last year." Nov. 14, 1778, recommended for a commission 
as Lieutenant-Colonel in the army for bravery and good conduct " in 
boarding and taking the armed schooner ' Pigot' of eight twelve- 
pounders and forty-five men in the east passage between the island 
of Rhode Islam! and the main." This exploit was performed Oct. 
17, 1778. 

•* Isaac y\ngell was the son of Colonel Angell's brother Elisha, 
and was a house carpenter, and " is said to have been a verv good 
workman." (^Angell Genealogy, p. 85.) 



42 THE DIARY OF 

Grain to day, but found none thus Ended the 
day with nothing Remarkable 

January 16th, 1779. This Day was 
Colder than it had been for Severall days be- 
fore, I went to Providence and after finishing the 
business I went upon Returned to my own hous, 
it was reported in Providence that the party 
that was a going on the privat Expedition was a 
going to attack a Sixty Gun Ship of the Enemys 

Jany. 17th. Clear and Very Cold I Spent 
the day at my own hous Capt Wm Arrow 
Smith ' who lived in my house Come from 
Boston to day and Brought News that one of 
our friggats had Returned to that port having 
taken Six prizes he also informs that m"" Andrews 
Clothier General of Boston Shot himself dead 
a few days before by handling a pair of pistols 

* The Providence town-meeting, March 2i, 1777, remitted the 
tax of Edmund Arro Smith, amounting to 6s. 6d. In a bill of 
the town-sergeant, rendered to the town, there is the item under 
the date Dec. 26, 1785 : "To taking charge of the things & Lock- 
ing up the house of Mr. Edmund A. Smith, -0-1-6." Mr, Smith 
probably died about this time, for Jan. 6, 1786, a bill is ordered 
paid by the town of Providence for " Board of Mr. Edmund Arrow 
Smith's family, Mrs. Smith and four children, two weeks 3-0-0." 
Joseph Smith, a son, was bound apprentice to Ephraim Clemence; 
Thomas Smith to Daniel Davenport. Another son, Edmund Smith, 
died at sea on board the brigantine " Polly," Zephaniah Graves, 
master, in 1799. At the time of his death he was a minor, and an 
apprentice to Ephraim Clemence. In January, 1777, Edmund 
Arrow Smith was a private in the Independent Company of Light 
Infantry of the town of Providence. The similarity of names 
and the fact that no other reference is found to William suggests 
that the diarist might have been in error. 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 43 

he had bought and one of them went of acci- 
dentaly and the Ball went through his head & 
he instantly Expired. 

January 18th, 1779. Cold and Raw 
I was much unwell this morning and Spent the 
day at home Isaac Angell Come to work for 
me to day. 

Janry 19th. Extreem Cold but nothing 
Remarkable happened. 

January 20th, 1779. Clear and Cold 
after Breakfast I and Capt Edmund Arrow 
Smith Set off for Providence by the way of 
John Waterman's Esq' and Daniel Thorntons 
I went to major Thayer's there fell in with 
Gen. Varnum Maj' Thayer and Maj' Box" 

> Daniel Box was Brigade Major of General Varnum's Brigade; 
his left arm was rendered useless by a fall from his horse in De- 
cember, 1776, when the army was quartered at Neshamany Ferry, 
Penn. In a list of invalids resident in Rhode Island, receiving a 
monthly pension for disabilities occasioned by the war, reported to 
the General Assembly of Rhode Island in February, 1786, it is 
stated the " wound so fractured the arm that several pieces of the 
bone have been extracted, and the wound is still open and the hand 
entirely useless." He died in 1801, leaving a widow, Mary Box, 
called also Polly, a daughter of James Field, son of John, 4th, of 
Providence, and great-great-grandson of the first John Field of 
Providence. The town of Providence frequently appropriated money 
for his support, stimulated, no doubt, by the following quaint appeals : 

"To the Honourable the Town Council of Providence. 

" The humble Petition of Daniel Box Sheweth. 
"Gentlemen 

" On the 22"'! of Feby., 1 7S6 I was admitted on the list of Conti- 
nental Invalids, by a Committee appointed by the General Assem- 



44 THE DIAKY OF 

and L* Carpenter, after Dining went on for 
Warren where I ariv'd about seven o'Clock 
in the Evening and found all well it Continued 
Growing Cold all this day and by night was as 

bly for that purpose, with an allowance of Ten Dollars per Month 
and aproved of by the General Assembly then sitting in Providence. 
As I have never yet received anything, there is due nie on that 
account 150 Dollars to the 22"''. of May, 1787. And having ob- 
served a late resolve of Assembly requesting the town Councils in 
this State to supply their Invalids with specific articles, and pay- 
ment to be made for the same out of the continental Taxes, but not 
hearing of anything in this Town having taken place in consequence 
of said resolve, 1 am induced to lay my distressed circumstances 
before you. Praying you to take them into your serious considera- 
tion, and if possible to grant me some reliefe. 

" I have been rendered uncapable for near two years past, to pro- 
cure my self and family even the common necessaries of life, during 
which period necessity has obliged me to dispose of all my little 
moveables, my beding and wearing apparrel not excepted, to pro- 
cure necessaries for the support of nature; I have nothing more to 
part with, and am absolutely suffering both in want of foode and 
raiment, not having a single shirt to shift my self. To innumerate 
all my sufferings is to cutting for a man of feeling, and what is re- 
lated already I hope will be sufficient to induce the Honourable 
Council to do something in my favour. I rely. Gentlemen, on 
your goodness, beging God to keep poverty from the door, both of 
you and yours, will ever be the fervent Prayer of your Humble 

Petitioner 

" Daniel Box 
" Providence June 4"' 1787 " 
Providence Town Papers, Xo. 42J6. 

" Providence Novm"" 1787 

"To the Hon.*"'*" the Town Council 

"The Humble petition of Daniel Box. Sheweth 
" Gentlemen 

" It is with the greatest reluctance and sorrow, my necessitys 
obliges me to crave your farther assistance, respecting my Contin- 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 45 

Sevear as Ever known Capt Smith who Come 
to providence with me went for Boston and 
bound to [ ] 

21st January, 1779. As Cold a morn- 
ing as Ever was known and Remained so the 
Day but Nothing Remarkable happened. 

22d. it Still remains Sevear Cold Some 
Difficulty arose in the Reg. Occationed by the 
Serg' going out of their Quarters Contrary to 

nental allowance as an Invalid. But when I consider your readiness 
to assist me on a former like occasion, I have not the least reason 
to doubt, but the same spirit of Benevolence, is still predominant. 
Especially when you consider the Inclemency of the approaching 
season. Heavens what a prospect ! for a man every way unpro- 
vided for the onset. The approach of winter makes my necessitys 
the greater, as it requires many expensive articles in a family, nec- 
essary to its comfort, that is not so much wanted in the more clement 
season, likewise a number of small debts, which is reasonable to 
suppose, I must have contracted, during a two years indisposition, 
which I want very much to satisfy. Upon these considerations, and 
many others to numerous to mention, tho of equel weight; I in the 
most humble manner beseech the Hon'''^ Council, if it is not in 
their power to grant me an order for the whole ballance due, they 
will let it so far exceed tl e former grant, as the Summer exceeds 
the winter, or in that proportion. 

" Upon your goodne--s Gentlemen rests all my hopes. 
" In the meantime be pleased to except the unfeigneil thanks of 
a heart full of gratitude and love fur your past favour, and that the 
gates of plenty, honour, and happiness, may be ever open to you 
and yours, will ever be the constant prayer of your much obliged 
humble petitioner. &c. 

"Note/ there will be due me the 23 of Novm"" 210 Dolhirs. 

" Received by your last order on a Count — 30 " 

"Ballance iSo" 

Providence Town Papers, No. 461 j. 



46 THE DIARY OF 

Orders, at night my self and Col. Olney 
Spent the Evening at Gen^ Varnums Q"^^ with 
Govenor Bradford and a Number of Gentle- 
men 

I Reed a letter in the Evening informing me 
that there was a movement of the Enemy the 
letter was from Col Shearburne. 

January 23d, 1779. Much warmer this 
mornino; then it had been before in Several 
days about 5 o'clock this morning there was a 
firing heard on the Western Shore, the flashes 
of the Guns was seen from this post, but what 
was the occasion or what has been Done is not 
yet known Gen' Varnum & Maj"" Thayer Come 
to the garrison this Evening from Providence 
but had heard no news of the above S'' firing 
thus Ended the day. 

24th. A Clowdy wet morning and warm 
but Nothing Remarkable happened Col. Olney 
went to Providence to day. 

January 25th, 1779. Clowdy weather 
and Raind hard in the afternoon. 

26th. A Clear morning And warm but 
soon Clowded over Lt William Littlefield ' 

' William Littlefield (R.I.)' Ensign 12th Continental Infantry, 
1st January to 31st December, 1776; 1st Lieutenant 2d Rhode 

Island, 1st January, 1777; Captain-Lieutenant ; discharged 

20th June, 1780. (Heitman's" Officers of the Continental Army.") 

The office of Captain-Lieutenant, so frequently found mentioned 







/// /.' / V' i-?- r r>t /■ !► I 






4 










/. 



''J'\ 



\ 



/ \ 



-f . '^ yf -9) V /^//Sl 

/ " ^ 

p^^ y/^^^^^^/ X^ <^Ar^ yXaS^^~ 






^€r rj'j 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL.. 47 

Returned this Evening from the Grand Army 
but brought no news of Consequence 

27th. A Snowy Morning and had Snow'd 
Greater part of the Night past but was not very 
Cold it remained Clowdy all the day but ceast 
Storming about Noon nothing Remarkable 
happened this day Col. Olney Returned from 
Providence today. 

28th January, 1779. A fine Clear and 
Plesant morning in the Afternoon Col. Webbs 
Regt. Mutinied ' and turned out under Arms 

in the rolls of the Revolutionary War, is here explained for the 
reason that its significance is not generally understood. Gen. 
Horatio Rogers, in his explanatory chapter to Hadden's " Journal 
and Orderly Books, 1776-1778," discusses the office and its rank 
in the British army, and as the American army was organized on 
practically the same plan, his statements apply equally well. " Each 
of the three field officers," he says, " was supposed to command a 
company, so that a regiment of ten companies would have but seven 
captains; but as the colonel rarely or never served with the regi- 
ment, there was an officer styled a captain-lieutenant who com- 
manded the colonel's company. Prior to 1772 this was a distinctive 
grade between lieutenant and captain; but in that year an order 
was issued giving a captain-lieutenant the rank of captain; though 
the ' Captain-Lieutenant and Captain,' as he was afterwards desig- 
nated in the Army Lists, was always the junior captain." Such was 
William Littlefield, of Angell's Regiment, in 1779; unlike the prac- 
tice in the British army. Colonel Angell served almost continuously 
with his regiment. 

' Mutinies among the Continental troops were not of infrequent 
occurrence. The troops were mostly incited to this disorder by the 
lack of pay and rations. May 29, 1780, two regiments of Connecti- 
cut troops mutinied while in camp near Morristown, and a brigade 
of the Pennsylvania line was called out to quell the disturbance. 



48 7 HE DIARY OF 

but was with Some Difficulty Desperst but at 
Night they all paraded and Marched to the 
Barracks where my men was and about forty of 
my Regt Joined them after talking some time 
with them they all Disperst and Remained in 
peace the night. 

January 29. A fine pleasant morning 
and at Roll Call I ordered fore of my Men 
Whipt for attempting and Robbing a Corporal 
for Informing the officers that they were a 
turning out with their Arms, in the afternoon 
I and Gen Varnum went to Providence from 
thence I went to my fathers there tarried the 
Night. 

Jany. 30th, 1779. A pleasant morning 
and after breakfast I set off for Providence but 
could do no business with the Council of war 
in the afternoon I set off for my own hous and 
a violent Stormy time I had as it snow'd all 
the way home I got to my own hous about 
sunset found all well. 

The fourth of January the next year the Pennsylvania troops mu- 
tinied, some blood was shed, and a serious state of affairs was averted 
only by the prompt and firm action of General Wayne. A few 
days later the New Jersey line cantoned at Pompton, N.J., mutinied, 
and left the camp, closely pursued by General Howe (American), 
who suppressed the revolt and executed some of the ringleaders. 
May 6, 1782, another mutiny among the Connecticut troops occurred 
near Fishkill, which was promptly surpressed. (Thatcher's " Mili- 
tary Journal," pp. 198, 246, 251, 310.) 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 



49 



January 31, 1779. It had Cleared off 
and was good Weather this morning I spent the 
Day in running about the Neighbourhood to 
day on busines and tarried at my own hous the 
Night following. 

Febry. 1st, 1779. A fine pleasant morn- 
ing after Breakfast I set of for Camp at Warren 
it Remained Exceeding Plesant over head but 
thaw'd So as to make it bad traviling I arrived 
in Camp by Sunset and found all well Col 
Peck ' and Doctor Hagan ^ was at my Q""^ 

' Probably William Peck (Conn.), Adjutant 17th Continental 
Infantry, ist January, 1776; Brigade Major to General Spencer, 
28th July, 1776; Major and Aide-de-Camp to General Spencer, 
14th August, 1776, to January, 1778; served also as Colonel and 
Deputy Adjutant-General of Forces in Rhode Island, 20th May, 
1777, until he resigned, about October, 1781. (Ileitmau's "Offi- 
cers of the Continental Army.") See also Providence Town Papers, 
Nos. 1452, 2145. 

® There was a Francis Hagan, of New Jersey, who was Hospital 
Physician and Surgeon, Oct. 6, 1780; he resigned the service May 
25, 1 781. 



50 THE DAIRY OF 



PART THREE. 



A PORTION of this section of the diary 
has been lost, the first entry, which was 
apparently for the eighteenth of June, 1779, 
being incomplete, — it refers to the engage- 
ment at Charlestown Neck, South Carolina, 
on May 11, 1779, news of which had only 
then been received. 

The part concludes with the fourteenth of 
August, 1779, when the regiment was en- 
camped at Barbers' Heights, in North Kings- 
town, Rhode Island. 

. . . Army being Defeted in an Action 
against Charlestown,' South Carolina, the En- 
emy was Pressing on to gain the town Gen' 
Lincon was in the Rear the Enemy was 
Repulsed and Retreated then Rallied Come 
on the Second time and was totally defeated 
thus Ends the Day with this Glorious News. 

' In this engagement General Lincoln sustained a loss, according 
to Gordon (British), of killed and wounded, 146, besides 155 miss- 
ing. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANCELL. 5 1 

19th. Nothing Remarkable this Day. 

June 20th, 1779. Fine weather and 
nothing remarkable untill Evening when we 
had the grand news of the Brittish armys being 
Entirely Defeted in georgia. 

21st. Good weather, this Day I sent to 
Coxet ' to divide the prize taken by the weasel 
and nothing Remarkable happens 

June22d, 1779. This day all the offi- 
cers of my Rest and Colo Sherburnes met at a 
place called Pecks Rocks ^ where they had a 
grand Entertainment I did not attend my self 
with them, in the afternoon Reed an express 
from General Gates ^ Desiring me to attend 
head Quarters. I set off immediately, when I 
Come to Providence the Gen' informed me he 
was going to Remove my Regt to Boston neck 
and Col Jackson's to Warren. I went to my 
Brother Whipples and tarried the night. 

June 23, 1779. Left Providence this 
morning after waiting on the Gen' arrived at 

' Acoxet, a part of Dartmouth, Mass., also spelled Coaksett. 
(^See Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. IV., p. 65.) 

* The place called Peck's Rocks is located at the mouth of the 
Warren River, nearly opposite Rumstick Point, in the town of Bris- 
tol, R.I. It was near here that the British forces landed when 
they made the attack on the towns of Warren and Bristol, May 
25, 1778. 

^ Gen. Horatio Gates held command of the troops in Rhode 
Island from April to November, 1779. 



N- 



52 THE DIARY OF 

Camp about ten oclock AM went to preparing 
for a move. 

24th. This morning we packt up all our 
baggage and begun to Remove it to warren, I 
rode out into Swansey to Mr. Hills Tavern 
to take my leave of them. Returned and dined 
with Gen. Miller' then went to the camp and 

'Gen. Nathan Miller was born in the town of Warren, R.I. 
(then Swansea, Mass.), March 20, 1743. He was the oldest son of 
Nathan and Patience (Turner) Miller, being sixth in line of descent 
from John Miller, one of the early settlers of Rehoboth, and fifth in 
line of descent from Capt. William Turner, who lost his life during 
Philip's War, while in command of a volunteer company at Turn- 
er's Falls. His paternal great-great-grandmother was Elizabeth, 
daughter of William Sabine, a Huguenot refugee of wealth and 
culture, whose name appeared upon the Rehoboth records as early 
as 1643. His grandfather, Samuel Miller, was a large landed pro- 
prietor, and was among the first in Warren to engage in ship build- 
ing. The Miller family were prominent members of the social, 
political, and religious circles of their native town, and gave their 
name to one of its principal streets. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution General Miller and his brother, 
William Turner Miller, at once embraced the cause of liberty, and 
throughout the war both labored diligently in defence of their 
country. In 1775 Nathan Miller was chosen Commissary to Gen- 
eral Hopkins' troops. In 1777 he was appointed a recruiting offi- 
cer. In 1778 he became a member of the Council of War. In 
the spring of this year, he, in connection with Le Baron Bradford, 
Samuel Pearce, Samuel Brown, and Cromwell Child fitted out the 
privateer sloop " General Stark," of fourteen guns, which captured 
two or more prizes, though eventually falling into the hands of the 
enemy. During the battle of Rhode Island he was in command of 
a regiment. In 1779, after having been advanced through various 
military grades, he was appointed Brigadier-General of the counties 
of Newport and Bristol. Throughout that and the following year 
he served on various committees. So arduous were his many duties 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 53 

found a man there who had brought a load of 
the goods from our prize at Coxet the goods 
was at Kickemuit Bridg we went imeadetly to 
carting it to warren and at three o'clock all the 
tents was struck loaded into the waggons a little 
after four the Reg* marched off the Ground 
went to Warren where they tarried the night 
in my Journal of the 22"^^ forgot to mention 
one Mellencully Accident which happend two 
young men of my Reg* Benjamin Bird and 

that in 1781 he decided to withdraw from public life, but at the 
request of the General Assembly reconsidered his determination, 
and in August of that year was placed in command of the flag-of- 
truce "Nancy" and proceeded to New York for the purpose of 
negotiating an exchange of prisoners. In 17S2 he was chosen one 
of a committee to sell certain confiscated estates, and was also a 
member of the committee of ways and means. He continued his 
active participation in public affairs until his death, which occurred 
March 20, 1790. 

General Miller represented Warren as a Deputy to the General 
Assembly for a period of nine years. In February, 17S6, he was 
elected a delegate to the United States Congress, the Rev. James 
Manning, D.D., President of Rhode Island College, being his col- 
league. 

With the French officers stationed in Rhode Island General Mil- 
ler was on most intimate terms, his Huguenot blood forming a bond 
of union mutually agreeable. General Lafayette, while encamped 
at Warren, was his frequent guest, and a warm friendship existed 
between the two. General Miller was also greatly attached to Count 
Rochambeau, with whom he exchanged swords. The Rochambeau 
sword is a handsome rapier, the blade ornamented with gold and 
blue, while the hilt and guard are of silver. It is owned by a de- 
scendant of General Miller, and is a highly prized heirloom. 

The personal appearance of General Miller was very striking, 
owing to his remarkable size. His weight was above three hun- 



54 7'//i5 DIARY OF 

James Lobb were both drowned in Kickemuit 
River the first men lost out of the Regt Since 
the action on the Island — by Death 

June 25th, 1779. This morning I turnd 
out by two o'clock and before four had all the 
troops embarkt and on their passage. I tarried 
myself till after Breakfast then went on by 
land in Company with Lt Jeruald ' and his 
wife to Providence as I was a member of a 
Court Martial to set there by adjournment for 
the trial of Col Vose " arrived in Providence 

dred pounds. His boots were said to have held a bushel of corn 
apiece, while four boys were easily buttoned into his vest. 

The Maiquis de Chastellux, in the narrative of his travels 
through America, alludes to the great corpulency of the general, 
and also to the remarkable size of his sister, Mrs. Burr, wife of the 
landlord of the famous Warren hostelry, Burr's Tavern. 

General Miller married his cousin, Rebekah Barton, daughter of 
Samuel and Lillis (Turner) Barton, Jan. 8, 1764. She survived him 
several years, dying Aug. 21, 181 7. By this marriage there were 
two children : a son, Caleb, who died in early youth, and a daughter, 
Abigail, who married Charles Wheaton, of Providence. 

The old Miller homestead is still standing in Warren, at the foot 
of Miller street. Many years ago it passed from the Miller family into 
stranger hands. Though somewhat decayed, it preserves its colo- 
nial appearance, and forms one of the most interesting of Warren's 
ancient landmarks. 

' Dutee Jerauld, recommended by General Washington and 
appointed 2d Lieutenant of the Second Battalion raised by the 
Colony of Rhode Island, October, 1776. (See Rhode Island Colo- 
nial Records, Vol. VII., p. Ii.) Appointed 1st Lieutenant, Feb- 
ruary, 1777. (Same, Vol. VIII., p. 127.) 

* " Head Quarters July 9**> 1779 Field Officer Major Trescott 

"The Gen' Court Martial held the 2"'*. June 1779 and Continued 
by adjournment until the 6"^ Julv of which B Gen' Starks was Pres- 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 55 

half after nine but the president was gone into 
the Country and I Went to Johnston to see 
my family where I arrived by two oclock & 
found all well but was much unwell myself 

ent Col" Joseph Vose Commander of the 4th Regiment from the 
State of Massachusetts Bay was Tryed for a Complaint Exhibited 
from a number of his officers for fraud for Taking a Quantaty of 
Rum Drawn for the Reg' for his own use Sec"^. in Defrauding the 
United States of a Number of Shirts out Major Shipherdes Store at 
Albany thir^^. for Selling a Horse belonging to the United States to 
an Inhabitant Near Valley Forge 4th for Drawing pay for being on 
Command while on Furlough 5th for keeping the Taylors employed 
by the United States to work for the army and alowed extra Pay 
there for. at work for those of his famaly that did not belong to the 
Service 6''^ for Drawing pay for a Serjeants Doing Q"" Mafters duty 
and keeping all the mony But Seven Dollors & h. P""- Month in his 
own hands & Converting it to his own use 7"^. for Sending home 
Blankits Drawn from the Store for the Regiment 8'*> for using Cloth 
Drawn for the Regiment to make his hired men Clothes. 9"^ for 
Gen^ UnGentlemanlike behavour to the officers of his Regiment. 
The Charges being Read to Col° Vose he pleaded not Guilty the 
Court upon a Mature and full Consideration of the Respective 
Charges, and the Evidences for and against Col'' Vose and of 
oppinion on the first Charge that Col". Vose was by no Means 
Tustifyable in Taking the Rum which it appeared he did but on the 
Contrary is highly Repremandable yet in Consideration of the 
Trifelling Quantaty he Took and the Necessity he appears to be 
under for the Rum The Commissary not having any at that Time 
and his Charractor as an Officer acquit him of any Intintion of 
defrauding the Soldiers in this Instent on each and every other of 
the Charges the Court are of oppinion that they are not Supported 
& that Col". Vose is not Guilty of any one of the Instinces of which 
he is Charged & there for acquit him & the Gen'. Confirmes the 
Judgement of the Court, and orders CoK Vose to be Relesed 

from his arrest & to Take Command of his Regiment. The Gen' 
Court Martial of which B. Gen'. Glovers is president is Desolved." — 

Orderly Book, /LeaJ(/uar{ers, Providence. 



56 THE DIARY OF 

June 26, 1779. Clowdy and foggy after 
Breakfast went .on to join my Reg^ went to 
East Greenwich there Din'd. then went on 
to Barbers Hill ' where I found the Reg* 
Encampt when I had got to the Regt was all 
most Sick it being an exceeding hot Day and 
I had not been well for Several Days before 
Col. Greene Maj Flagg' were both at the En- 
campment when I came there, 

June 27, 1779. I was in a shocking situ- 
ation of health this morning, but got some bet- 
ter in the afternoon and Road to updike 
Newtown and Reconitered the Shore betwixt the 
encampment and the above said town then 
went to Maj'' Gardners there Drunk tea and 
Returned to the camp thus ends the day 

June 2§th. A clowdy Raw windy morn- 
ing this being the day that the battle was at 
Monmoth ^ I prepaird and Entertainment for all 

' Barber's Height is a commanding eminence in North Kingstown 
two hundred feet above the sea level; from its highest point a 
view can be obtained of the whole lower bay (Narragansett) and 
for many miles off to sea. 

^ Flagg, Ebenezer (R.I.), Captain 2d Rhode Island Regiment, 
28th June to December, 1775; Captain 9th Continental Infantry, 
ist January to 31st December, 1776; Captain 1st Rhode Island, 1st 
January, 1777; Major, 26th May, 1778; killed, 14th May, 1781, 
by Delancy's Tories in Westchester County, New York. (Heitman's 
"Officers of the Continental Army.") 

■'The battle of Monmouth took place June 28, 1778; in this 
engagement Angell's Regiment bore a conspicuous part, being in 
the division commanded by General Lee. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AX CELL. 57 

the Officers of my Reg^ and all Dind togeather 
there Came a brigg in from Sea this afternoon 
I orderd a piece of artillery down on the shore 
and brought her too. it proved to be a Brigg 
from Sandy Cruze bound to Providence with 
Rum and Sowering on board thus Ends the 
Day William Jacobs master of the abovesd 
Brigg. 

June 19th, 1779. Clowdy Morning 
Capt Humphrey ' a Sergt and four men was 
sent to Greenwich this morning at Sunrise on 
Busness. Nothing of Consequence happened 
this Day. 

30th. This Day we had an Invitation to 
Dine with a Number of Gentlemen and ladies 
at one M"" Gardners who lived upon the farm 
that was Rooms. ^ I and Col Olney went, 

' Humphrey, William (R.I.)» Lieutenant of Varnum's Rhode 
Island Regiment, June, 1775; taken prisoner at Quebec, 31st De- 
cember, 1775; 1st Lieutenant 2d Rhode Island, ist January, 1777; 
Captain, 22d October, 1777; transferred to ist Rhode Island, 1st 
January, 1781, and served to close of \^'ar. (Heitman's "Officers of 
the Continental Army.") 

A journal of the expedition against Quebec, kept by him, is in 
the possession of his great-grandson, George Humphrey, Esq., of 
Providence, R.I. 

■^ George Rome, "a gentleman of estate" and a merchant from 
England, came to Rhode Island in 1761, as the agent of the house 
of Halsey & Hopkins. 

He resided in Newport winters, and in Narragansett summers. 
His estate was located on Boston Neck, in North Kingstown, and 



58 THE DIARY OF 

and spent the Day very agreable being a very 
respectable company of the most principal In- 
habitants for Several miles around. 

July 1st, 1779. An Exceeding Raney 

consisted of about seven hundred acres, " bounding easterly on the 
Narragansett Bay. 

"The mansion house was highly finished and furnished. The 
beds were concealed from view in the wainscots — the rooms might 
be traversed throughout, and not a bed for the repose of the guests 
be seen. . . 

" When the hour for retirement arrived, a servant would just give 
a touch to a spring in the ceiling and the visitor's bed, by means of 
a self-adjusting process, would protrude itself, as if by the effect of 
magic, ready prepared for the reception of its tenant." 

His grounds were elegantly embellished, and he entertained with 
"sumptuous hospitality." 

In the Stamp Act excitement he wrote a letter to a friend in 
Boston in which he reviled the Legislature, the Courts, and juries 
of the Colony, and charged general corruption therein. It aroused 
the most intense excitement. 

He was summoned before the Legislature at its session in Octo- 
ber, 1773, in South Kingstown, and questioned as to his expressions; 
but he evaded all the questions and was adjudged in contempt, and 
by order of the House was committed to the common gaol of South 
Kingstown, where he remained until the House rose. " After his re- 
lease from prison, realizing the extent of popular feeling against him 
and fearing that it might work him still more bodily harm, he ' fled 
on board of the " Rose," man-of-war, then lying in the Narragansett 
bay.' " 

His estates were later seized by the Colony, and at a session of 
the General Asseml)ly, in October, 1775, a committee was appointed 
to sell at public auction all the effects of George Rome in possession 
of the State and pay the money into the State Treasury. 

For Acts of the General Assembly relating to this affair, see Vol. 
XII., Rhode Island Colonial Records, pp. 376, 394, 421, 499, 520, 
549. See also my " Esek Hopkins, Commander-in-Chief of the 
American Navy," p. 53. 



COLOXEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 59 

morning with Thunder and Showers Lt Cook ' 
of Col. Greenes Regt. Come from the Meroon 
frolick. "" last night and Tarried in Camp 
Breakfasted with me and after Dinner Set off 
for Greenwich where we arrived in the after- 
noon and after Drinking a glass of wine with 
the Governor ^ went on for my own hous 
where arrived by Sunset found all well. 

2d. it Storming this Day I tarried at my 
own hous the Day and nothing Remarkable 
happened. 

3d. Clear and pleasant I set off with Mr 
Stevens this morning for Providence Mr Luther 
went with his team to bring up Some Stores for 
me that the Weasel brought and nails for a barn 
I waited upon the Genl for liberty to tarry until 
the Court Martial Set which was on Monday 
this was Saturday the request was granted me 
after doing what business I had to do returned 
to my hous in Johnston by two o'clock Joseph 

'Cooke, John (R.I.)> Ensign 1st Rhode Island, 1st Jan- 
uary, 1777; 2d Lieutenant, ist June, 1778; Regimental Quarter- 
master, , 1778, to ; was in service May, 1780. 
(Heitman's "Officers of the Continental Army.") 

' A hunting or fishing trip, or- excursion, in Southern United 
States, to camp out after the manner of the West Indian Maroons; 
a pleasure excursion of some duration, with provisions for living 
in camp. " Marooning Cases " are frequently mentioned in old 
inventories. See Prov. Probate Records, Wills, No. 11, p. 38. 

^ William Greene, Jr., Governor from May, 1778, to May, 1786, 
who lived near East Greenwich. 



6o THE DIARY OF 

Thrasher ' a deserter from my Regt. was taken 
near Providence Confined in the Main guard 
yesterday by Capt Joab Sweeting ^ an inhabi- 
tant. 

July 4th, 1779. fine weather this being 
Sunday I tarried at home untill after noon then 
went to Meeting at Samuel Angell's returned 
with a number of ladies and Spent the afternoon 
very agreable. 

July 5th. Clear and pleasant morning my 
people begun this morning to make prepara- 
tions to raise a barn I went to Providence to at- 
tend the Court Martial but it being a day for the 
Selebrating our Independence the Court stood 
adjourned until tomorrow morning Six oclock 
So I returned home and attended on the Rais- 
ing of my Barn which was rais'd in the After- 
noon without Aney Accident happening. 

July 6th, 1779. I set off By Sunrise this 
morning for Providence to attend the Court 
which did not meet untill near nine oclock when 
we proceeded to business and finished before 

' Joseph Thrasher, of Capt. William Tew's Company. 

^ Job Sweeting, appointed Dec. 24, 1774, with others, a com- 
mittee for resisting the Act of the British Parliament imposing a duty 
on tea, and for otherwise raising a revenue in the American Colonies. 

February, 1776, appointed, with others, a committee to procure as 
much gold and silver coin as they can for the operations in Canada. 
He does not appear to have been engaged in any military service. 
Many references to him are in Providence Town Papers. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 6 1 

Sunset as Genl Glovers Brigade was ordered to 
move it became necessary for the trial to be 
ended as soon as possible therefore the Court 
set in the Afternoon, which is not Agreable to 
the Articles of war Except in cases of Necessity 
like this, this day we reed the news of the death 
of Capt Joseph Olney of North Providence, 
who departed this life this morning very Sudden 
just before day. his wife observed him to fetch 
a Sigh and a groan She spoke to him but he 
did not answer her, and died imeadietley without 
speaking another word I returned to my own 
hous this Evening. 

July 7th, 1779. This day I expected to 
have gone to Boston Neck to join the Regt. but 
my wife had a mind to go to see her mother so 
after Dinner I and my wife set off for her 
mothers and I returned in the Evening in 
order to sett off for the Camp Early in the 
morning. 

July 8th. This morning I got up very 
Early in order to set off on my journey for 
the Camp but my horse had run away and took 
me all the forenoon to look for him in the 
afternoon I set off for Camp went to Green- 
wich there Col. Greene Desired me to tarry 
with him until next day and he and Major 
Flagg would both go with me. I tarried and 



62 THE DIARY OF 

between two and three o'clock in the morning 
we were allarmed by the firing of small arms 
below towards New Town ' on which the Allarm 
Guns were fird at New Town and Warwick. 

9th. I immediately on the Allarm set off 
for Camp arrived at New Town before Sunrise 
on my way there mett some Militia who in- 
formed me that there was three Boats with 
about one Hundred men landed at Quonset" 
above new town & Plundered John Dyer's 
Hous of Some Small matter of goods he him- 
self crept out on the Rough (roof ) of the hous 
and made his Escape, then I tarried at New- 
town untill Ensign Pratt ' Returned as he was 
gone to Col Dyers to see what intelligence he 
could get but he returned with no more than I 
had heard before we then Set off for Camp it 
had rained Considerable in the morning, and 
imeaditely set in to raining Exceeding hard by 
which means I got as wet as water would make 
me by the time I got to the Camp it Cleared off 
by noon nothing more Remarkable happened. 

' Updike's New-town, now Wickford. 

^ Quonset Point or Seconiquonset Point (see Harris Map State 
of Rhode Island, 1795), to the north-east of the village of Wickford, 
in North Kingstown. The Rhode Island State Militia camp-grounds 
are located there. 

^ William Pratt appointed Ensign by General Assembly of Rhode 
Island, Tune, 17S0, commission to date from May I, 1779. (Rhode 
Island Colonial Records, Vol. IX., p. 90.) 



COLOXEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 63 

10th. This Day being pleasant I with five 
or six of my officers went to Col Sands ' Tower 
HilP to dine with him and spent the day I 
forgot to mention that on the 8^'' Reed the 
Disagreeable News of the Enemys having 
possession of new Haven -^ we Daily have in- 
telligence from them Yesterday we heard that 
they had burnt fairfield and to Day it was 
Confirmd we further heard that they were of 
against New London. "^ 

July nth, 1779. This Day I went on 
Dutch Island ^ Returned by Two oclock and 

■Ray Sands lived at Tower Hill and in 1775 was appointed 
Postmaster at the office there estabUshed. In October of that year 
he was chosen Captain of the Third Company in South Kingstown, 
and again in 1776. In July, 1776, he was chosen Major of the 
Second Regiment of Militia in Kings County, holding this position 
for a few months, when he was advanced to the position of Colonel, 
"in the room of Samuel Seagar, who is gone to sea." 

Colonel Sands was stationed at Boston Neck and Point Judith in 
December, 1776, in command of detachments sent there for guard 
duty. At the March session of the General Assembly, 1777, it was 
made known that the election of Sands in place of Seagar was to 
the office of Lieutenant-Colonel instead of Colonel, the Secretary hav- 
ing erroneously made the record and issued a commission. This mis- 
take n.ade necessary several changes, all of which may be found 
explained in Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. 8, pp. 179, 180. 

^ To the south-west of Barbers Heights and east of Boston Neck, 
178 feet above tide water. 

■* These were the raids made by Tryon against the towns on the 
Connecticut coast. 

■* New London was spared an attack, the raiders being called to 
New York on account of the Stony Point engagement. 

* Dutch Island lies to the south of Barbers Heights, and against 
the western shores of Conanicut Island. 



64 THE DIAKY OF 

it soon Set in to Storming thus Ended the 
Day. 

12th. Last Night was as Stormy a Night 
perhaps as Ever Known with rain wind and 
Thunder numbers of the Marques and tents 
blow Down and the greatest part of the troops 
was as wet as the water would make them it 
Cleared off this Day by a little after 12 oclock. 
a Court Martial ' Set at Mr. Moreys in New- 
town to try two Deserters from my Regt John 
Deruce and Joseph Thrasher a further Confir- 
mation Come this Day of the Enemy's burning 
fairfield. 

13th. Nothing Remarkable this day 
14th. The Same to Day as yesterday 
July 15th, 1779. This Day Reed news 
that there was nothing in the Report of the 
Action at Charlestown South Carolina but 
think it all most impossible that Lying Could 
be Carried to such a pitch I went to Newtown 
Major Thayer to Warren. 

• " At a Brigade Court Martial held at Updike Newtown on the 
12*'^ Instant (July 12 1779) of which Lt. Col" Olney was Presid' 
John Deruse of Col°. Angills Regiment was Tryed for Desersion to 
the Enemy and Carrying with him a Guard Boat — The Prisoner 
being Brought Before the Court Pleads Guilty The Court therefore 
Sentence him To Suffer Death — The Gen', approves the Sentence 
of the Court — Joseph Thrasher of CoK Angells Regiment Tryed at 
the above Court for Desertion found Guilty and Sentenced to Re- 
ceve one hundred lashes on his Bare Back — The Gen', approves 
the Sentence and Orders the punishment inflicted immeadiately." 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 65 

16th. Clear Cold and windy weather I 
Col Houg( ) and Capt. Allen' went round 
what is called Boston Neck below where we lay 
on Barbers Hights Returned and found Col 
Greene in Camp this Evening Major Thayer 
Returned from Warren 

July 17th, 1779. Clowdy and Exceeding 
Windy and Cold but nothing happened ex- 
traordinary 

18th Nothing Remarkable this day 

19th. This Evening we Read a hand bill 
from Providence that General Wayne with 1200 
of the light troops had taken the Brittish fort 
on Stoney Point " at Kings ferry on North 
River he took the fort on Surprise Carri'd it 
with the loss of four men killed and Eleven 
wounded, the garrison Consisted of five hun- 
dred Brittish troops who were all killd and 
made prisoners to a man it is said lOO of them 
were killed and wounded. 

' Alien, William (R.I.), ist Lieutenant nth Continental Infantry, 
1st January to 31st December, 1776; ist Lieutenant 2d Rhode 
Island, 1st January, 1777; Captain 13th January, 1777; transferred 
to 1st Rhode Island, ist January, 1 781 ; Brevet-Major 30th Sep- 
tember, 1783 ; served to 3d November, 1783. (Heitman's "Officers 
of the Continental Army.") 

'Captured by Gen. Anthony Wayne, July 16, 1779; but after 
holding the Point for three days, " the works were all destroyed, 
and the garrisons with the cannon and stores withdrawn into the 
Highlands." It required a greater force to hold it than could be 
spared from the army. 



C6 TIIF. DIARY OF 

July 20, 1779. Nothing Remarkable this 
Day. 

2 1st. This day we had a fu-de-joy on the 
occation of Stoney point fort being taken bv 
firing thirteen peaces of Cannon I with a 
number of gentlemen Dind with Peter Phillips 
Ksqr ' thus ends the day. 

July 22d, 1779. Nothing Remarkable 
this Day. 

23d. This morning a fleet appeared off 
point Judath of 37 sail and by night were all 
in the harbor of Newport Except one or two 

24th. This morning I sent L' Thomas 
Waterman an Express to head C)"" with the re- 
turns of my Reg' and a number of letters and 
in the afternoon had the Mortification to finde 
that Two thirds of the Serg'"" in the Reg' had 
conspired togeather and ript the bindings of 
their hatts Contrary to orders 1 issued an 

' Peter Phillips was a Deputy to the General Assembly of Rho(]e 
Island in May, 1772, 1773, I774- lie was appointed on a connnittee 
to make enumeration of the inhabitants of the colony in 1774; 
an Assistant in May, 1775. In 1775 he was appointed Commissary 
of the Army of Observation and held commission as Deputy Com- 
missary under 'I'runibuU for some years thereafter. In 1776, 1779, 
and 1780 he was an Assistant and appointed one of a committee to 
manage confiscated estates. lie later held the position of Justice of 
the Superior Court for several years. A letter from Jonathan Trum- 
bull, dated Hartford, Jan. 20, 1777, to Capt. Asa Waterman, says: 
" You will find Mr. Phillips an exceedingly good man, lend him 
any assistance in your power." 



COLONEL ISRAEL. ANGEL.L. 6/ 

order for them to put them on by next morn- 
ing by guard mounting or they should be re- 
duced to the ranks with out the formality of a 
Court Martial and tried for a willful Disobedi- 
ence of orders. 

25th July, 1779. This morning by 
Eight oclock the Sergt^ had all their bindings 
on in the afternoon yesterday I reed a muti- 
nious paper from one of the Soldiers wrote by 
one Hazzard and brought by one Twitchel and 
last Evening Two Deserters John Deruce and 
Robert Albro ' both made their Escape from 
the Q' Guard Deruce was in Irons and under 
Sentence of death, he is supposed to have 
been taken out of his irons by one P'owler who 
was confin'd with him. I set out for to see 
the Genl at providence on business this after- 
noon half past 4 oclock went to my own hous 
tarried the night. 

26th July. A Raney morning after break- 
fast went off for providence Din'd with Gov- 
ernour Bowen " finished my business and 
return'd to Camp before nine o'clock in the 
evening had news to day of the Enemy going 
up North River with all their force. 

' Robert Albro, of Capt. William Tew's Company. (See my 
" Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island," p. 126.) 

*Jabez Bowen, Deputy-Governor of Rhode Island from May, 
1778, to May, 1780, and from May, 1781, to May, 1786. 



6cS 'J'ifi'- n/.iA'v OF 

July 27th, 1779. Clowdy and wet morn- 
ing after breakfast I went a fishing the Day 
Eanded with nothing remarkable happening. 

July 28th, 1779. This morning half after 
Seven oclock I set off in a boat with five men 
for warren arrivd there by half after two in 
the afternoon Dined at Mr Luthers and 
Tarried there that night. 

July 29th. This morning it Rained the 
wind was Northeast I should have Set off for 
the Camp, had the Boat Returned from prov- 
idence which I sent up the evening before, and 
I got my busness done but the boat did not 
return till near night which obliged me to Stay 
in warren this night. 

30th. This morning I got up before sun- 
rise Went up to where the Artillery was 
encampt there staid and breakfasted then re- 
turn'd to warren but the wind shifting from 
N. E to S W could not set off untill the tide 
turn'd as the wind was ahead about 9 o'clock set 
sail beat out of warren River gaind the Bay but 
the tide running against the wind, and the wind 
blowing very heavy Caus't so great a Swell 
that the Spray of the See broke over us so that 
we Should soon ben as wet as water would 
make us I ordered the boat about and Run 
back to warren landed on Barrington Shore 



CO I. GIVE f. ISRAFJ. ANGEL!.. 69 

where I fell in Company with Capt Tew went 
home with him and Staid the afternoon and 
night with him as the wind Continued to blow 
hard. 

July the 31st and last, 1779. After 
Breakfasting at Capt Tew went to warren there 
Reed the Disagreeable news of my Reg* mu- 
tinying on which I set off to try to reach the 
western shore though the wind was a head we 
beat out of warren river Stood over to Warwick 
neck ' and after trying to beat Down to Barbers 
hights, was obliged to put away for Greenwich 
harbor there Left my boat and men got a hors 
and set off for Camp arriv'd there by Eight 
o'clock found all in peace on my way met Genl 
Stark and a number of other Gentlemen who 
had been down to the Regt at the Request of 
Gen Gates, and ordered the Regt to parade 
and march by the Column they all Reed the 
genl pardon except George Millamen who was 
ordered to be Sent prisoner in irons to provi- 
dence and was imeadetly sent off. '- y^ 

August the 1st, 1779. A Raney morn- 
ing and Continued Storming the greatest part 
of the Day but nothing Remarkable happened. 



' Here was an important military post, and a garrison was main- 
tained during the years of the war. For a more particular account 
see my " Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island." 



70 



THE DIARY OF 



August 2d. Clowdy and raw after Break- 
fast I Col. Olney Capt Hughes L^ Sayls all 
Set off for Providence went as far as Greenwich 
there heard that the Council of War was upon 
busness and could not attend to do the busness 
we were a going upon. So I and L' Sayls 
went on L' Col. Olney and Capt Hughes 
tarried to dine in greenwich I parted with Lt 
Sayls at Greens Bridg ' I come home and 
tarrid at my own hous 

August 3d, 1779. This morning was 
very Raney but held up a little before noon 
and I went to Catch my hors to go to Prov- 
idence but he broke out of the pasture into the 
woods and I was not able to catch him till near 
the middle of the afternoon then went to Prov- 
idence found it necessary for me to be in 
Camp by the next morning So set off imea- 
detly went to greenwich There tarried the 
night. 

4th August. Left Greenwich this even- 
ing at day break arrived in Camp [ ] the 
sun an hour high. Sent Major Thayer off 

' This is sometimes called Major Greene's Bridge, and is referred 
to in records as " ye bridge called Major Greene's bridge." In May, 
1 77 1, the town of Warwick petitioned the General Assembly of 
Rhode Island to grant a lottery to repair this bridge, it having been 
carried away by a freshet. It is described in the petition as over the 
Pawtucket River, about six miles above the falls. The present 
bridge at Pontiac, R.I., serves to mark approximately its location. 



COLOA'EL I SUA EL AN CELL. 71 

with Capt Coggeshall OIney and Ensign 
Wheaton ' for Providence as Evidence against 
George Milliman who was to be tried this day 
for Mutiny in the afternoon there Come a 
man to my Marquee who informed me that he 
belonged to the galley which lay below Provi- 
dence and had been out by Block Island in the 
Galleys boat and taken three fisherman boats 
who were all on their way to Providence and 
had Calld at the Shore to give me intelligence 
I went and [ ] one of the prisoners who in- 
formed me that the Tory fleet intended to 
Come off a plundering on point Judath this 
night or tomorrow night Thus ends the 
Day. 

5th August, 1779. Last night I Rec'd 
an Express from the Adj'. General that the 
Court to try Millamen wanted Eight non com- 
missioned officers and Soldiers of my Regt as 
Evidences which I sent off about midnight this 
was a Clear and pleasant morning and the 
Tory's Did not trouble us last Night as we had 
Reason to Expect by the ace* Rec'd the Even- 

' Joseph Wheaton, appointed Ensign by General Assembly of 
Rhode Island, June, 1780, commission to date from May i, 1779. 
" General Sullivan's Orderly Book, Headquarters, Providence, 
March 3 1779," contains this entry: 

" Lieut. Joseph Wheaton (of Lieutenant-Colonel Peabody's State 
Regiment) is appointed Ensign in Col. Israel Angells Continental 
Regiment." 



']2 THE DIARY OF 

ing before I tarrid in Camp till after Dinner 
then Rode all round the neck called Boston 
neck Returned to Camp before Sun Set, 

6th August, 1779. Early this morning 
Major Gardner Come to Camp and brought 
news that our fleet that went down to the East- 
ward to penobscot had landed their Land 
forces and taken the Brittish Batteries at the 
same time the fleet had block't in their shipping 
and the enemy had Sunk all their Ships and 
Surrendered themselves prisoners to the amount 
of Two thousand men Maj"" Thayer \ Returned 
to Camp from Providence last night about ten 
o'clock nothing remarkable happened till in 
the evening there came a Deserter from ofl^ 
Conanicutt Island from the enemy who Swam 
over to Dutch Island from thence to the neck, 
he was so weak when he landed that he could 
not stand for Some time having Swam near 
three miles [all this days journal to the mark | 
happened the morning before but was omitted 
being Entered through mistake] This day 
ended with nothing More remarkable than 
what has been related. 

August 7th, 1779. Clowdy morning 
and begun to rain and rained very hard and 
continued raining all the Dav and was as Rainv a 
night as was Ever known with very hard thunder. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AA'GELL. 73 

8th. A Raney morning and perhaps never 
more rain fell in one night than there did last 
night it cleared off to day L' Col. Olney Com 
to Camp to day nothing remarkable happened 
during the Day. 

August 9th, 1779. Clowdy and foggy 
this morning Col Olney Set off tor providence 
to attend the Court Martial the fogg broke 
away it was a fine day I Spent part of this day 
a fishing at night we Reed news of Col Tal- 
butts having taken Stanton Hazzard ' the Tory 
pirat from Rhode Island and Carried him into 
Newlondon 

10th. Nothing Remarkable this day. 

1 1th. Nothing remarkable. 

August 12th, 1779. Continues the 
Same as yesterday. 

13th. Peace and Quietness. 

14th. This Day sent a boat to Point ju- 
dath for a wounded man [ ] Jacksons 

Reg* to carry him to [ ] his father havin 

come after him living in Dighton Showering 
wet weather Eand this journal. 

' For portrait see "The Hazard Family of Rhode Island, 1635- 
1894," by Caroline E. Robinson, also genealogical account. 

The historical statements in this volume relating to Stanton Haz- 
ard are criticnlly considered by Sidney S. Rider, A.M., in " Book 
Notes," Vol. XTII., No. 10, where is also a letter regarding this event, 
from Silas Talbot to General Gates. 



74 THE DIARY OF 



PART FOUR. 



THE period covered by this part of the 
diary is from October 3, 1779, to De- 
cember 13, 1779. 

During this time the Rhode Island Regiment 
was encamped on Barbers Height, in North 
Kingstown, in Rhode Island, until after the 
evacuation of Newport by the British, when all 
the Continental troops in Rhode Island were 
ordered to the westward. 

Before taking up the march, however. Colonel 
Angell spent a short time with his family at 
home, and joined his regiment at Danbury, 
Conn., from which place the regiment marched 
to Morristown, New Jersey. The diary is 
prefaced as follows : 

A Journal Continued from 2"'' of October 1779 

Encamped on Barbers Hights North kingstown 

Eanded 13*'' December 

In Morristown Mountains 

October 3d, 1779. Plesant weather and 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 75 

Nothing Remarkable happend Except the 
Stopping of two Small Sloops in Newtown 
loaded with Rum Sugar and wine, bound to 
Connecticutt, and as there was an Embargo 
laid on those articals, and not to be Carried 
out of the State, it was my Duty to Stop them, 
untill they had a pass from that authority that 
past the non Exportation act, I wrote a letter 
to the Governor, Sent it by one of the Gentle- 
men. 

Octr. 4th. Warm and plesant weather, 
the Gentlemen I Sent to the Governor Re- 
turned with a permit from govenor, or rather 
a Recommen for them to pass on in their 
voige, this afternoon I was obliged to Stop a 
Sloop going from this port to Seaconk with 
twelve thousand weight of Chease, but the 
Gentleman produced an order from the board 
of war in boston to purchase Chease for the 
Navey, on which I let him proceed on with 
Said Chease, Ebenezer West' Formily a Lieu- 

' Ebenezer West was chosen Ensign of the 2d Rhode Island 
Battalion, October, 1776. Of this battalion Israel Angell was 
Lieutenant-Colonel. (Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., 
p. II.) 

In February, 1777, West was chosen ist Lieutenant in the same 
battalion, Israel Angell being advanced to the rank of Colonel. 
(Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., p. 126.) Ileitman 
gives his military record as follows: Ensign iith Continental In 
fantry, ist January to 31st December, 1776; ist Lieutenant 2d 
Rhode Island, ilth February, 1777; cashiered 9th July, 177S. 



-jG THE DIARY OF 

tenant in my Reg'. Came to Camp this Even- 
ing to See his two Sones in my Reg'. 

October 5th, 1779. A Stormy morning, 
with the wmci Northeast, and had Raind, the 
[ Jratist part of the Night, and Continued 
Storming the whole Dav 

October 6th, 1779. A Clowdy weet 
morning. I had an Invitation to dine with 
Govenor Bradford, General Varnum and Col 
Thomas Potter ' and a number of Gentlemen 
of the Superior Court at Little Rest.' I Col. 
Olney Capt Coggeshall Olney Capt Stephen 
Olney. Set off and dind with them and Re- 
turnd in the Evening, and perhaps it never 
raind much harder, we received News of Count 

' Col. Thomas Potter, chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2d 
Regiment of Militia in Kings County, December, 1776. In March, 
1777, his appointment was revoked for the reason that it had been 
made by mistake; at the same time he was dismissed from service 
as Major, the time of the enlistment of the regiment to which he 
was appointed having expired. (Rhode Island Colonial Records, 
Vol. VIII., p. 180.) 

At the March session of the General Assembly, 1777, he was 
appointed to represent South Kingstown on a committee for num- 
bering all persons able to bear arms. In August of the same year 
he was appointed one of the recruiting officers for South Kings- 
town. (Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. VIII., p. 180.) 

In May, 1779, he was chosen Colonel of the 3d Regiment of 
Militia, in the County of Kings. Probably the same Thomas Potter 
who was 1st Lieutenant of the Independent Company in South 
Kingstown, called the Kingstown Reds, in 1776. 

' Little Rest Hill, in South Kingstown, w here the Courts were 
held. 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. yy 

De Estaing being at georgia, and had landed 
five thousand troops the lo"' Sept 

Octr. 7th, 1779. This morning it cleard 
off, and after Breakfast I and Doctor 'Fenny 
Set off for greenwich Dind there, and after 
finishing my busness, went to Judg Northupts,' 
for Shoes for my Reg', from thence to Camp, 
they informd me in Camp, that there had 
been three large Ships Seen off, without block 
Island but before night Disapeard 

Octr. 8th, 1779. Cold and Windy I Sent 
a boat to warren this Day. 

In the Afternoon we Rec''. a report that 
Count DEstaing was at Sandy Hook, and had 
taken all the Brittish Shippen and men in 
Georgia, and that there was one hundred and 
fifty Sail Comming Down the Sound from New 
York, Doctor Tenny^ Come from Greenwich 
this Evening and brought me a letter from 
Col". Ward ' that the plan of the Barracks was 

' John Northup, one of the Justices of the Court of Common 
Pleas fur Kings County, R.I. He was one of the Committee of 
Safety, a member of the General Assembly, and actively engaged in 
the affairs of the State during the war. 

^Tenney, Samuel (R.I.), Surgeon's Mate of Gridley's Regiment, 
Massachusetts Artillery, June to December, 1775; Surgeon nth 
Continental Infantry, 1st January to 31st December, 1776; Sur- 
geon 2d Rhode Island, 1st January, 1777; transferred to ist Rhode 
Island, 1st January, 17S1, and served to close of war. (Died 6th 
February, 1816.) (Heitman's " Officers of the ConlinentrJ Army.") 

^ Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Ward (born Nov. 17, 1756; died 



78 THE DIARY OF 

Come and Desired me to Come up to green- 
wich as Soon as possible. Thus Eand tlie day 

9th October, 1779. A plesant Morning 
and after breakfast I and Col. Ohiey Set off 
for greenwich to Consult on building the bar- 
racks, but Col". Greene was unwell and Could 
not attend, after we had been at Greenwich, I 
went to Col° Greens Dind with him, then went 
to my own hous found all well. 

Octr. 10th, 1779. This morning after 
breakfast Set off for Providence to See the 
General, Concerning the barracks from thence 
up into Wainscott to my fathers, from thence 
home where I arrived by 9 "Clock 

Octr. nth, 1779. This morning after 
breakfast I set off for Camp when I come to 
Greenwich heard that there was A fleet got into 
Rhode Island from New York, when I Come 
to Camp found there had 57 Sail arrivd, among 
which were 34 Ship, they appeard to be all 
Empty, two of the privateer boats boarded one 
of the vessels the men imeadetly ran down into 
the hold, but before they Could git her away. 
Come two barges and they were forst to 
Leave her, the muster Master Come to Camp 

Aug. 16, 1832) of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. He was retired 
when the two Rhode Island regiments were consolidated. He com- 
manded a battalion of colored troops at the Battle of Rhode Island, 
August, 1778. A portrait is in Stone's " French Allies," opp. p. 86. 



COLO A EL ISRAEL ANGEI^L. 79 

with me and Cap^ Hughes. Thus Eands the 
Day — 

Octr. 12th, 1779. This Morning after 
breakfast my Reg* was Mustered and I Set off 
with the mustermaster and Major Thayer for 
Greenwich where I expected to meet the Gen- 
eral from Providence, but he did not Come, 
and after Dining with the Governor, I Returned 
to Camp Maj"^ Thayer went on for providence. 

October 13th, 1779. Clowdy weet morn- 
ing, as it had Raind the greatest part of the 
night past. L* Col" Olney went off for provi- 
dence this morning after breakfast, in the 
afternoon I Sent a boat to Reconiter along 
Connanicutt to see what discoveries they Could 
make the people landed below Dutch Island 
and none come to molest them, then they 
landed above and went Near half a Cross the 
Island Drove down Some horses with a view of 
bringing Some of them off, but the Enemy 
fired on them with a field peace, and imeadetly 
Sent a party of light troops, which obliged them 
to Come off without aney of the horses, they 
Rowed along up the island — keepeing in with 
the Shore, the Enemy pursued and begun a fire, 
which was Returnd by the boats Crew but at 
Such a distance that no Execution was done on 
Either Side, there was imeadetly another party 



8o THE DIARY OF 

of the Enemy Come up the Island of Near loo 
men, but our people Come off with their boat 
and thus they had a march of Six or Seven 
miles for nothing, I Rec"* an Express from 
General Gates, Desiring me to keep a good 
look out, and give him the Earliest information 
of any movement of the Enemy, the Express 
informed me of an accident that befell one of 
my men who Was Sent after one Clefford a 
Deserter, Serj^ Chaffe,' and John Gould were 
Sent to take S'' Clefford, they took a boy an 
Inhabitant with them to show them the hous. 
they knocked at the Door but Could not be 
Admitted Enterence, they imeadetly broke 
open the Door, this Clefford run up Stairs, 
Goold followed him Clefford fird upon Gould 
with a pistol, the boy that was with them run 
off Screeming. Chaffe followed as is reported, 
in the morning Goolds hat was found in the 
hous with a ball fired through it but gould 
was not found when the Express Came away. 
Chaffe was gone to the General to know what 
further to Do. Thus Eands the Day. 

October 14th, 1779. This Day we 
Rec''. Several accounts Concerning Goulds being 
wounded or killd, but before night we heard he 

' Probably Sergeant Noah Chaffee, of Capt. Coggeshall Olney's 
Company. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 8 1 

had got to providence, and at Night Major 
Thayer Returnd and brought the news of Chaf- 
fey and Gould Returning. Gould had Rec'' a 
ball in his head as we had heard, but not to 
break his Skull, Maj'' Thayer allso informd me 
that we were under Marching orders, and 
brought an order from the General to me for to 
Call in all my out Commands, \} Col Olney 
Returned from providence this Evening, thus 
Eand the Day. 

October 15th, 1779. Clowdy and Cold 
with a high wind from the Northeast, Lt. 
Macomber' and Ensign Roggers^ with a party 
of men landed on Connanicutt last night, and 
went over all the upper part ot the Island, but 
Could not take aney of the Inhabitants Except 
Old men and women, without it was one 
Hegron whome they brought off, we have 

' Macomber, Ebenezer (R. I.), ist Lieutenant of Richmond's 
Rhode Island Regiment, 19th August to November, 1776; 1st Lieu- 
tenant of Tallman's Rhode Island State Regiment, 12th December, 
1776; 1st Lieu'enant 2d Rhode Island, 12th June, 1777; transferred 
to 1st Rhode Island, 1st January, 17S1 ; Captain, 17th March, 1782, 
and served to i 7lh March, 1783. (Died 5th April, 1829.) (Heit- 
man's "Officers cf the Continental Army.") 

^ Rogers, John (R. I.), Ensign 2d Rhode Island, Ist May, 1779; 
wounded at Connecticut Farms, 23d June, 1780; transferred to ist 
Rhode Island, ist January, 1781 ; Lieutenant, August, 1781, and 
served to close of war; Military Storekeeper United States Army, 
9th March, 1819; honorably discharged Ist June, 1821. (Heit- 
man's "Officers of the Continental Army.") 



82 THE DIARY OF 

been Employed the Day in making Every 
preparation tor marching 

October 16th, 1779. This morning was 
windy and Cold as had ben before, one M' 
Cole an inhabitant Come with a Complaint to 
me this morning that he had ben Abused by 
two of my Soldiers the night past, by their 
laying Violent hands on him throwing him 
down, and falling upon him the Regiment was 
imeadetly paraded and the Villins found and 
Confind, a Court Orderd to try them, and 
were both trid one of them ordered to be whipt 
one hundred lashes, viz, John Thomas, the 
other Daniel barney ' a Corprol, was Reduced 
and floggd fifty Stripes — 

October 17th, 1779. This day was very 
fine weather I was Exceeding busily employed 
all the forepard of the Day with pay abstracts, 
for both Continental and State, and after fin- 
ishing my busness, went with CoP Olney and 
Major Thayer to dine with Col° John Gardner, 
there was a Ship of 28 or 30 guns, a brigg of 
16 went into Newport Harbour and a Schoner 
Supposed to be a prize to the brigg one of the 
brittis Friggats went up the river towards the 
Eand of Conanicut thus eands the Day. 

' Daniel Barney, formerly private in Capt. William Humphrey's 
Company. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 83 

1 8th October, 1779. No movements of 
the Enemy this Day to be discovered Major 
Thayer Capt. Hughes, and \} Sayles — all went 
to providence this Day, Hews and Sayles went 
in the Morning Major Thayer went after Din- 
ner with me as far as the ten rod road,' Where 
Col" Dyers Reg' of Militia met for a review, 
as this Day was a Day that the Militia were 
mustered in every County in the State I re- 
turned to Camp in the Evening. 

19th October. Nothing Remarkable hap- 
pened this Day, a forty Gun Ship went up the 
River towards the upper Eand of Connanicut 

October 20th, 1779. This Day I Sent a 
boat to Reconiter Connanicut, to See what Dis- 
coveries was to be made Ensign wheaton went 
in the boat, and brought off one Jonathan 
Greene a very Sincible young man who lived 
within the lines, who informed us that the 
Enemy was a going to avacuate the Island, had 
got all their heavey baggage and Cannon on 

' The ten-rod road is a well-known highway in North Kingstown. 
It derives its name from being originally laid out ten rods wide, but 
since its original lay-out it has shrunk considerably in width, for 
abutting owners have been unable to resist the temptation to extend 
front walls and fences, and what was once a part of the common 
highway is now included in the front yards of abutters. 

The road was laid out from Updike's Newtown (Wickford) 
westerly through the town of Exeter into Voluntown, Conn. 



84 THE DIARY OF 

board, had burnt their platt forms in the North 
battry, I saw the Smoak yesterday but forgot to 
mention it Imeadetly Sent an Express to Gen- 
eral Gates, by the movement of the Enemys 
Ships it was thought they were a going, this 
Evening. 

21st Octr. 1799. The Enemys Ships 
Remain in their former position, this Day Col 
Olney Set off for Providence being So lame 
as to be unfit for Duty, but meeting the Gen- 
eral, who informed him that the Reg^ would 
go on the Island before they Marched to the 
westward, he Sent back his Servant went to 
providence, the Gen'. Stark Come to the 
Camp just before Sun Set, there was a very 
heavey firing off at Sea this Afternoon, an- 
other was a brigg lay off point judath ' firing 
Signal Gunns till Dark there was a Great num- 
ber of the Inhabitants in Camp this Dav 

October 22nd, 1779. This Day being 
the Day that we defeated the Hessians at Red 
banks in 1777, the officers of the Regiment 
provided a Dinner and all Dind togeather, 
with a great number of the Inhabitants, as 
there was Some hundreds of people out of the 
Country, on the hill looking out to See the 
fleet go off but the wind not being fair pre- 

' Point Judith, at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGEL.L.. 85 

vented their Sailing, they Continued burning 
the platforms in their forts, and Some hay 
they had on Conanicut, yesterday they Set the 
light hous ' on fire about Eleven "Clock, though 
I forgot to mention it in my journal the troops 
burned the Effigy of Count Dunop this Day 
and raised a liberty pole near fore Score feet 
high. 

October the 23rd, 1779. A Strong South 
Wind this Day and the fleet Remained the 
Same as Yesterday, and the hill all Covered 
with people Looking out to See the fleet Sail 

October 24th. Cloudy and weet, with 
the wind Northerly, there appeard a great 
Movement among the fleet, this morning but 
the wind Soon Died away and begun to weet, 
Stephen Phillips and Thomas Hearrendeen,^ 
two Villins Deserted from my Reg', last Even- 
ing, and was Sent after this Morning : a great 
multitude of the Inhabitants Assembled here 
this Day to See the fleet go off^ their Signal 
Gun was fired and the fleet made preparation 
for Sailing but the wind died away and they 
remained at their Station, I sent a boat to 
Conanicut, and two of the Inhabitants Come 

' Beaver Tail Lighthouse, at the southern end of Conanicut 
Island. 

'-Thomas Herenden, of Capt. Coggeshall Olney's Co. 



86 TJIE DIARY OF 

off, who informd us that they Enemy was to 
have saild to Day, had the wind admited of it, 
in the afternoon there was a heavy Cannonade 
up the Sound, and before Night there Came 
five Ships Two briggs and one Schooner out 
of the Sound and went into Newport harbour 

October 25th, 1779. A fine Plesant 
Morning and the fleet Remains the Same as 
yesterday, about the middle of the Day the 
Enemy begun to burn their Barracks and great 
movements was Seen among them, there was a 
great number of people in Camp to See the 
fleet Sail, among the Crowd was Governor 
Greens lady and daughter, the Britans was 
busy in Imbarking all the afternoon by Sunset 
was all on board, and the fleet Set Sail just 
after Sunset before Eleven "Clock in the evening 
was all without the light hous and we making 
preparation to take posession of the town ' 

October 26th, 1779. This morning at 
four o Clock all the troops paraded and 
marched for Roome point " Where they were 
to Embark on board their boats, the wind 
being very high and a Great Swell in the bay 
I Expected the boats would all have ben lost 

' Newport, R.I. 

" Romes Point is north of Barber's Height, at the entrance to 
Bissels Cove, in North Kingstown. It lies nearly opposite the 
north end of Conanicut Island. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN G ELL. 8/ 

with the men in them but With Great Diffi- 
culty the boats got to Conanicut, where two 
of them filld and were wrackt, in deed they 
were all nearly full of water when they Landed. 
I my Self was in a large boat with a deck more 
than half her length, and it was with great Dif- 
ficulty that we kept the boat above water, un- 
till we turnd the North Eand of Conanicut, — 
then we run nearly before the wind, and arrivd 
in Newport harbour half past Eight "Clock in 
the morning but the regiment marched on Co- 
nanicut to the ferry where I provided boats to 
bring the Same off and all Got Safe into the 
town before Night; the Shops was all Shut, 
and ordered to be kept So after the General 
Come in. the Inhabitants flockt in in great 
multitudes. Thus Kands this Day' 

October 27th, 1779. A fine plesant 
Morning, and Continued So the day. I Spent 
this Day in Reconitering the Town, and 
works which was destroyed by the Enemy, and 
Sending to get over the Remainder of my 
baggage. 

October 28th. a Clear plesant morning 
but Cool, after breakfast I road with the Gen- 
eral Round all the Enemy Lines where I Saw 

' The date of the evacuation of Newport is erroneously staled by 
Stone, in his " French Allies," as occurring un the 27th. 



88 THE DIARY OF 

Some of the Beautifullest works ' that I Ever 
Saw in my life, all my Camp equipage arrived 
this afternoon 

October 29th, 1 779. A plesant Day and 
Nothing Remarkable happend this Day: I 
was the Officer of the Day. 

30th. Remarkable warm and Plesant, 
Nothing Remarkable happend this Day. I 
dind with General Stark 

31st. Plesant Weather, this Morning I 
took my boat*and went over to Conanicut there 
Reconiterd th;e Island viewd the forts Which 
the enemy had built found them Strong but 
Small, after Dining with Col" Levingston Re- 
turnd to Newport thus Eands the Month and 
Day, 

November 1st, 1779. fine plesant 
weather for the Season, Nothing Remarkable 
happened this Day 

2nd. Cold this morning and raind a little, 
wind very high, at north, I was the officer of 
the Day went to Brintons neck ' viewed the 
Sod and Turf prepaird there by the brittish 
troops to burn in lieu of wood, there was two 

' A detailed account of the fortifications in and around New- 
port may be found in my " Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Is- 
land." 

^ Brenton's Neck, the present neck of land which terminates at 
Fort Adams, Newport, R.I. 

\ 



COLONEL LSLiAEL ANGL'J.L. 89 

Sorts, one Cut in Strips out of a bog Swa,mp. 
the others was dug out of a pond place, workt 
the Same as morter, then made into three 
Squair peaces about one foot h)ng Laid on the 
ground in rows and dryed then Set up on eand 
four togeather and one a top of them, after that 
they were pilkl in roos from whence they were 
taken and Carted Some Distance and there 
Corded up in rows to Stand till they were 
wanted for use. the Day l^anded with nothing 
Remarkable 

November 3rd, 1779. Cold raw and 
uncomfortable this morning Col" Greens Reg', 
went over upon Goat Island.' to take thier 
Ouarters theere, Joseph Congdon" a Deserter 
was brought into the Garrison last Evening and 
was Sent to the main (iuard this Morning, he 
was taken up near Newlondon, the Day Con- 
tinued Cold, I and Col Greene went over to 
Goat Island and Returned by Kvening 

4th. Nothing Remarkable happend this 
Day 

November 5th, 6th, 1779. This morn 
ing we Rec'' orders for all the Continental 

' Goat Island is in Newport harbor; the Naval Torpedo Station 
is located on the island. 

* Joseph Ciongdon, of Lieut.-Col. Jeremiah Olney's Company. 
His name a|)pears in the roll of Capt. Stephen Olney's Company, 
at Yorktown, as having participated in that engagement. 



90 THE DIARY OF 

Troops to March to the westward, but the 
wind blew So hard that we Could not Cross the 
bay, in the afternoon, I Set off for home, got to 
bristol ferry' and the wind blu So hard that I 
Could not Cross, went to M"" Durfeys there 
Staid the night, in the morning Crost went to 
Warren breakfasted, then went to Providence 
there Dind then went to my own hous found 
all well 

Novr. 7th. Still and Plesant Morning 
Nothing Remarkable happend this Day I 
tarried at home 

Novr. — 8th — 1779. this Morning 
after breakfast I Set off for Camp, arrivd in 
Greenwich by twelve "Clock Dind with Gen'. 
Stark, then went to the Reg*, which lay about 
one Mile and half from Greenwich westward 
found all well, 

9th. This morning Rec''. Orders for Col 
Livingstons Reg'. Col Webbs and Col Jack- 
sons, to march the Next morning at Sunrise. 
My Reg^ Col". Greens and Col. Sherburnes the 
day after at Sunrise, this Day we were all a 
making out our Returns for Cloathing blankets 
&c. 

Novr. 10th, 1779. This morning Col" 
Webbs Reg*, marched off, Col°. Levingstons 

' At the northern end of the island of Rhode Island. 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 



91 



Did not march till the afternoon Col Jack- 
sons marched the Day before from providence 

this Night we Spent till two "Clock next 
morning delivering out Clothing to the Officers 

Novr. llth— , 1779. This Morning was 
Exceeding Cold wc finished Delivering out the 
Cloathing to the Soldiers by Eleven "Clock, 
and Marched off the Ground, by twelve I tar- 
ried untill all the waggons were got under way 
then Gave the Charge of the Reg^ to the Major, 
and went to Greenwich Dind with Col Greene, 
then went to See my familey, the Major re- 
turnd yesterday from Visiting his familey, and 
Col Olney wen* for providence, for nine or ten 
Days 

12th November, 1779. This Morning 
Ensign Roggers ' Come to my hous going in 
Search of benoni Bishop' and Robert Gilley-^ 
two Deserters, after breakfast Ensign Roggers 
Set off, and before Noon Returnd with the 
Above Said Deserters, and went on after the 
Reg*, with them Carried them to Vollentown 
there Deliverd them up to the Reg*, and re- 
turnd 

13th Novr., 1779. this Day Ensign Rog- 

' John Rogers, appointed Ensign by General Assembly of Rhode 
Island, June, 1780, commission to date from May i, 1779. 
^ Benoni Bishop, of Major Thayer's Company. 
^ Robert Gilly, of Major Thayer's Company. 



92 THE DIARY OF 

gers Rcturnd, and went on for Smithfield, I 
went to Scituate for to buy Some beef Returnd 
at Evening Serj^ Noah ChafFe Come to My 
hous this Day after Some Deserters, and went 
to providence, by water and a Young man 
Saw Samuel Grant ' a Deserter from my Reg^ 
I Sent them imeadetly in Search after him and 
they took him brought him to my hous by 
one oClock the Next Morning, freelove water 
man and husband was at my hous her Sister 
and Sweetheart. 

14th Novr., 1779. fineWeather and a great 
number of people Come to My hous this Day. 
Serj' Chaffe Come to me for Orders as he 
was Directed by Maj' Thayer, and I Sent 
Grant to providence to the Goal, he allso 
brought News that William Edmans,^ a deser- 
ter was taken up and brought to the furnice in 
Scituate,^ and Col Olney had Sent for him to 
Providence Goal, 

15th November, 1779. This Morning 
Sent my Servant to providence to get Some 
Salt, and got help to kill my Beef, but the 
ladd returnd and got none, as they would not 
Sell aney without they Could have provisions 

' Samuel Grant, of Col. Angell's Company. 
'■^ William Edmunds, of Col. William Humphrey's Company. 
' Scituate Furnace, the site of the present village of Hope, on 
the Pawtuxct Kivcr, near the line between Coventry and .Scituate. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 



93 



for it. theire was a great number of people at 
my hous this Day 

Novr. 16. fine weather, I was to have 
Sett off for the Army this morning but as I 
Could not git no Salt yesterday, Sent by M'' 
Luther this Day and was determind Not to 
goe forward untill I Could get Some, he Re- 
turnd at night, and had not got a handfull, thus 
being Disapointd Did not go forward 

November 17th, 1779. Clowdy and 
Snowed very fast this morning I Sent my boy 
off for North kingstown to Peter Phillips Ksq''. 
to See if he Could purchase me Some Salt, 
Nothing Remarkable happend this Day 

Novr. 18th. My boy I Sent to Northkings 
Town Returnd this forenoon with two bushel 
of Salt, which my frind Peter Phillips Esq'' let 
me have. John Usher and Thomas Smith both 
Come to my hous this Day. 

Novr. 19th, 1779. Sevear Cold this 
morning. I was to have Set off for Camp but 
my Cloathes not being Ready concluded to 
tarry until the Next day morning. 

Novr. 20th. A fine plesant Day, but I 
was So much unwell that it prevented my Set- 
ting off for the army So I spent the Day at 
home 

21st. This morning it raind very hard, 



94 



I III: J>l \NV or 



wliu li Siill |)icv(iil((l iiic Iroiii yu\\\\!^ loiward, 
iliul I Spciil llic (l;iy Willi my l.iinilcy 

November 22iul, 1779. Clowdy mid 
luiiid :i lilllc (Ins iiionnnj,' l)iil Soon hrouk 
;iw;ty. and aflt-r hrrakfasi I Sd oil on my 
jouiiicy lo )om llic Army and wcnl lo Volcn- 
(own ' (o m'. I )oii"an( cs iIktc l)in(l. llicn wcnl 
Oil as far as Scoil.md fo M ' I'orlx-s 'lavcin 
who married llic widow I'linl (lu-rc put up (or 
llial Nit-Ill. 

Novr. 2,^rd. I .c(i my lodt',int',s I'.arly I his 
niornin|.f wiiil ihroutdi Windham lo M ' ilijls 
(here hrcaklaslcd (hen wcnl lo l>ollcn ' ihcre 
diiid from liiencc wcnl lo llaillord ihcn jiul 
n|) al one M ' Lords a jnival lioiis. Where 
l)o(lor ('oriicims was (>uarlci"d. altciidiiifi: on 
Soiiu- Sick which was lell hehind o( ( ien'. 
Siarkcs hriL',adi' 

2-1111 Novr., 1779. Allcr hrcaklasl lliis 
mormnt'^ I wcnl on my journey (o larminglown 
jM miles. Irom thciuc lo Soul hi-iiiii^lon '/ miles 
llicre l)in(l. llicii wcnl (o Walerhuiy i.( miles 
(here pul up loi llu- Nij^hl. a( one M ' judds 

' I lie liiH'ir, ,il » liicli '.liilis wcrf .iiililc serve III iiic|i<:!i(c oiienl 
llie liiii'H |nllipw((| li\ liiivelleiH lliroil^li < onn<i li( ill in r:irly limes. 
JHiiii Vciliinliiu n, .li llie casleril etid nl ( 'chiihm Ik iit, llie (innse 

urt llnv'c'ili-i ly iiiilil II.iiIIokI WIIS rfllcilci I, where llie ((iiiisc- 

I li.iii)Mil lo t.diiliiwi- .1, eiKJiiij^'. Ill I );iiil)iiry, all lie uislein einl nl 
< 'iiiiiii'< li( III. 

• IUiIImii, ( (inii. 



co/.ox/:/. isN.uj. .-lAu; /■:/./.. ,^5 

'lavcT/i, licTc I g,,( iiilclli^rcncr of my \<v^ . 
iH-in^r in ,la;.l),n-y l)y a Cai,'. ,,. (,Vn'. (;|,,v(Ts 
lingadc-. who was on liis way liom,- ,,1, (mlont'li 
25th November, (779. l,,-f( ,ny lodg- 
ings ihis Morning l)dorc Sunrise went lo one 
M' Mc-llcrics Tavern Seven miles on a New 
road row:irds Woodhury (here Mreak/as(ed, 
then went through Wo(,d liury South hury to' 
new Town there Dind i\ Mih-s th.n went to 
l):inl)ury where I found the Reg'. C,,!. ()|„(y 
and Major Thayer were f^iarlered in a (,rand 
ll"ifs ()((U|)id |,y the widow Wolls<v of I ouK 
Island ^ 

26th. Clowdy and Snr;wed this Day, In 
Hie Afternoon Col Creene and (.rilfm (.n-m.- ' 
Arrived m town from Kliod, -island, on (Inir 
way to head (Juarfers, an<l I Set o/f with th.-m 
in as had u Snow Storm as dencraly I'.ver ( om.s 
Rode ahout: 9 miles there put up at a Pul.lic 
hous in the State (A' Newyork 

November 27th, 1779. it Cleard off m 
the night and we L<f( our lodgings I'.arly this 
morning it was I-lxceeding hacj riding on aect of 
tile Snow, though not /nore then Aneic Deep 

''inlln, fin.-.,,,, «om of JuImv., Jr., uuA Su:,;.,,,.;.!., l,-,n, I-cbTTo' 
mr, chosen I'ayrnaHlcr, Au«UHt, ,777; Major of K.nlish (iuardn 
May, ,778. V.y or-ler isHuH Aug. i M77S. " C.niU-.u Cuu-n Kso is 
to a..t as Ai,I l>. ra„,. ,„ Major C.n. (;ree„e." (Col. Sl.crhurn.'s 
Orderly IJook m Newport Historical Society.) 



96 THE DIARY OF 

as it raind part of the night which made bad 
traveling we arrivd at the River opposit west 
point about Day light Dawn, and Crost over 
to the point, where We found great Difficulty 
in gitting our horses out of the boat, and Climb- 
ing the rocks, to git on the plain at the foot of 
the Mountains which when we had Accom- 
plished Enquired for the Adj*. General, where 
we found maney of our frends, Supt with the 
Adj'. Gen', then I went with Major Peters ' 
lodgd with him and Major Nicholson ^ Col 
Greene tarried with the adj'. General. M"" 
Griffen Greene went with Gen'. Patterson, we 
rode this Day 12 or 15 miles and Could get 
nothing for our [horses] 

November 28th, 1779. This Morning 
I got up by break of Day went to view the 
forts the first was fort putnam ^ on a high 

'This may refer to Peters, Andrew (Mass.), Captain of Read's 
Massachusetts Regiment, May to December, 1775; Captain 13th 
Continental Infantry, 1st January to 31st December, 1776; Major 
2d Massachusetts, ist January, 1777; Lieutenant-Colonel 15th 
Massachusetts, ist July, 1779; resigned 26th November, 1779. 
(Died 5th February, 1822.) (Heitman's "Officers of the Conti- 
nental Army.") 

^Nicholson, George Chadine (X.Y.), Major ist Canadian 
(Livingston's) Regiment, 6th May, 1777; retired 1st January, 1781. 
(Heitman's " Officers of the Continental Army.") 

^ Fort Putnam was located at the top of Mount Independence, 
nearly five hundred feet above the river. 

It was built of stone in 1778 to complete a system of works to 



COI.OXEL ISRAEL AX CELL. 97 

Mountain, which may be properly Called the 
American Giberalter, the next I went to was 
fort Arnold' in both these forts was bumb proof 
Suficient to hold what men it would take to 
man the lines there was a fort on Every Emmi- 
nence Some Distance round, after breakfast We 
waited on his Excellency, had an Invitation to 
dine with him but gitting nothing for our horses 
went on for New Winsor, over the Mountains 
through the High lands, over the highest 
mountain I ever was upon we was about two 
hours Climbing up the mountain. Some part 
of the way I was affraid my hors would fall 
backwards in Climbing up, was obliged to Stop 
at Every opportunity when the land would 
Admit of it to git breath, we got to New 

secure the river from the passage of the enemy's ships. It was 
named after the commander of the post, Gen. Israel Putnam. 

This fort had an armament, Sept. 5, 1780, consisting of five iron 
eighteen-pounders, two iron twelve-pounders, three brass pieces of 
small calibre, and four brass 5i-inch mortars. It had two bomb- 
proofs. — Lossing. 

' Fort Arnold was one of the outposts in the line of defences at 
West Point. It was situated upon " a commanding eminence above 
the road leading to Buttermilk Falls." 

From " Remarks on Works at West Point, a copy to be trans- 
mitted to his Excellency General Washington, Sept., 1780," written 
by Benedict Arnold, it appears that " Fort Arnold is built of Dry 
Fascines and wood, is in a' ruinous condition incompleat and subject 
to take fire from Shells or Carcasses " its armament consisted of " one 
iron tv/enty-four pounder, six iron eighteen pounders, one iron 
twelve pounder, three iron three pounders, one brass four pounder 
and eleven brass mortars of various calibres." — Lossine: 



98 > THE DIARY OF 

Winsor a little after Sunset but Could git noth- 
ing for our Selves or horses to Eat. went 
on for Newbourgh. Applyd to Quartermaster 
Mitchel for forrige for our horses who furnished 
us with a little, then Sent a boy to get lodgings 
for us which he did at an Old Dutch mans hous 
Col Green and I applyd to the Cloather Gen', 
and finished our business with him which was to 
git Cloathing for our Reg\ or an Order for it 
then went to our lodgings 

29th Novr., 1779. this Morning after 
breakfast I got My horses Shodd Crost the 
North River over to fishkill Went on for Dan- 
bury Col Greene and M"^ Griffin Greene went for 
Springfield So we parted about Six miles from 
fishkill but Still Could git nothing for our 
horses, till riding ten or twelve miles, there 
Dind and fed our horses then went to Col" 
Luttentons Tavern among the Mountains 2i 
Miles from fishkill there put up for the Night 
one of Col" Levingstons Officers Came to this 
tavern in the Evening on his way home on fur- 
lough 

Novr. 30th, 1779. Left my lodgings 
this morning after breakfast went on for Dan- 
bury Arrived there by one o Clock found all 
well, the Gen. had Sent an Officer to Stamford 
and along the Sea Coast to See if there was an 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. 99 

English fleet in tlie Sound and if there was not, 
he had orders from his Excellency by me. to 
march on the Brigade to join the grand Army 
in the Jerseys 

Deer. 1st, 1779. Fine Plesant weather 
and Nothing Remarkable this forenoon in the 
afternoon one of the Serj'^ Viz. Serj^ Hight ' 
brought a very handsom patch Gound to my 
Quarters which he had taken from one NE^ 
Thomas a Soldiers wife in the Regiment, which 
She had Stolen from a woman ^ at Updikes 
Newtown in the State of Rhode Island. I 
took the Gound in order to Send it to the 
owner, and ordered all the Drums and fifes to 
parade and Drum her out of the Reg', with a 
paper pind to her back, with these words in 
Cappital letters, /A THIEF/ thus She went 
off with Musick — 

December 2d, 1779. An Exceeding 
Stormey Day which Detained us this Day from 
marching 

3rd. This Day we was Making preparation 
for marching the next morning when there 

' Sergt. Jonathan Iloight, of Cap. Thomas Hughes' Company. 

^ Waity Brown, of Updike's Newtown (Wickford), as stated in 
a memorandun'; at end of this part of the diary. There was a Waite 
Reynolds, of North Kingstown, who married Benjamin Brown, also 
of North Kingstown, Oct. 17, 1771, who may have been the person 
referred to. 



lOO THE DIARY OF 

Come news that the bridg over Croton River 
was broak down which detaind us another Day 
4th. This Day Major Thayer Set off for 
Providence State Rhode Island on busness And 
we Remaind at our present Quarters 

December 5th, 1779. This morning 

the Brigade marched we had not marched far 
before it begun to Snow and was Exceeding 
Cold and tedious I marched my Reg^ about i8 
or 20 miles there got my Reg', all into houses 
and good Quarters for my Self, but my wag- 
gons did not get up by Seven miles 

Deer. 6th 6: 7th. A fine Clear morn- 
ing, but Very Cold, and the Snow about ancle 
Deep. I got the troops Under way by a little 
after Sunrise, marched as far as within half a 
mile of kings ferry there lodged in the woods 
that Night Next Morning Turnd out at Break 
of Day marched to the ferry Crost hudsons 
River marched on to Kakaat there got the 
troops into houses. I went on a head and took 
my Quarters at Col Sherrads this Day we took 
up Samuel Dyer a Deserter from my Reg*, 
and was trid by a Court martial, ordered to be 
whipt one hundred lashes on his Naked back 

December 8th, 1779. Marched this 
Morning by a little after Day light went to 
Soverens tavern in Ranomapough, there halted, 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. loi 

and drew Some flower then went to Pumpton ' 

there barracked the troops, after Marching ii 

Miles 

Deer. 9th. This Day we lay Still for 

our waggons to Come up, Col Levingstons 

Reg'. &c Col" Sherburnes marched by us and 

went in frunt and took Quarters, Gen'. Stark 

Got up with the troops to Day 
December 10th, 1779. A Rainey Day 

and we lay Still thier I went to Dine with Gen'. 

Stark our Baggage Come up to Day. 

Deer. nth. A Clear and Cold morning. 

the brigade Lay Still this day waiting for the 
baggage to Come up 

Deer. 12th. A Snowy morning, we Rec*^. 
Orders not to March this Day on account of 
its Storming, there Came Two Deers by my 
Quarters, and was pursd By the Soldiers but 
they Could not Ketch them. 

13th Deeember, 1779. This morning 
it Raind but broak away and was Clear about 
Eleven oclock and the Brigade Marched for 
Morristown my Reg^ went about i6 miles, 
great part of the way over Shoe in mud and 
Some places up to the mens knees in water we 
marched very fast untill Some time in the 
Evening before we got to the place of our Dis- 

' Pompton, N.J. 



102 THE DIARY OF 

tination I put up at Col" Courtlands ' a Gentle- 
man from Newyork and proprietor of Court- 
lands Mannor ^ — 

Scituate, 22d Novr., 1779. This Day Settled 
and ballanced all Accounts between M"" Na- 
thaniel Lovel and Col Israel Angell up to this 
Day 

Wittness our hand 

Nathaniel Lovell 
I Angell 

Expences Greens - - - o— lo-o 

Dorrances -----3-6-0 

Forbes ------- 

Weighty Brown of Updikes Newtown North 
Kingstown gound found by Serj'. Hight 

'Philip Van Courtlandt was a Colonel in the American army, 
having been appointed in 1776. 

He served at the battle of Stillwater, and against the Indians on 
the frontier in 1778. In 1779-80 he was a member of the court- 
martial which was convened for the trial of Arnold. 

For gallantry and meritorious conduct at the battle of York- 
town, he was raised to the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. 

He accompanied General Lafayette on his tour through the 
states in 1824. He died at the Manor House, Nov. 5, 1831, 
aged eighty- two. 

*The Van Courtlandt Manor was erected in 1773, and was an 
elegant brick mansion. A cut of the Van Courtlandt house may be 
seen in Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution," Vol. II., p. 623. 

The house is yet standing, and occupies a site in the present 
Van Courtlandt Park in the northern edge of the city of New York. 

It has recently been placed by the authorities in the care of one 
of the hereditary patriotic societies, and has been converted into a 
museum and repository of relics, to which purpose it was dedicated 
with public festivities. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 103 



PART FIVE. 



THE events which transpired between 
Aug. 10, 1780, and Sept. 30, 1780, form 
the subject of the fifth part of the diary. It 
finds the army encamped in Northern New 
Jersey, and from whence it moved to West 
Point, in New York. Here the regiment was 
located at the time of the treason of Arnold, 
and the diary terminates with the events follow- 
ing this monstrous affair. 

August 10th, 1780. Clear and hott, 
this morning, the Brigade was Inspected by 
Baron Stuben ' my Reg*, was the first for In- 

' Frederick William Von Steuben, Major-General in the Revolu- 
tionary Army, " was one of the best educated and most experienced 
soldiers of Germany." He held the rank of Lieutenant in the Seven 
Years' War, and had also held a position on the staff of Frederick the 
Great. 

He arrived in America on the first day of December, 1777, and 
immediately addressed letters to Washington and to Congress offer- 
ing his services in the American cause. 

His superior military training and knowledge of tactics was of 
the greatest value to the American army, and through his efforts the 
troops were brought to a high grade of discipline. 

In August, 1779, Baron Steuben, then Inspector-General of the 



I04 THE DIARY OF 

spection, and the Baron was Exceedingly pleasd 
with the mens array being in the best Order. 
Nothing Remarkable. 

1 Ith. The Division Court Martial where- 
of I was President was ordered to Assemble in 
order to finish the trial of U Boss of the 4"' 
Pennsylvania Reg\ but Some of the Members 
did not attend by which Reason no business 
was Done, there has ben a firing from one of 
the Enemys Gunboats in North River at our 
Guards but no harm done. Two Battallions 
paraded for Manoevering one of which I Com- 
manded 

12th. Clowdy dark Morning, and abun- 
dance of Thunder, but little rain. Nothing 
remarkable this day. I was much unwell. 

United States Ajrmy, arrived in Providence on an official tour to in- 
spect the corps of General Gates. 

He compiled for the use of the army a work on miUtary tactics, 
which was in use by the army of the United States for many years. 
Copies of it are now rare, the edition being limited to three thousand 
copies. 

The story of his life and service in the cause of the Colonies is 
told in " The Life of Frederick William Von Steuben, Major-General 
in the Revolutionary Army," by Friedrich Kapp, New York, 1859. 

His services as briefly stated by Saffel in his " Records of the 
Revolutionary War " are as follows : " Joins the army at Valley 
Forge; made Inspector-General; commands at Monmouth, June 28, 
1778; made Major-General ; commands at Virginia and Yorktownin 
1781: receives 16,000 acres of land in Oneida County, N.Y. Con- 
gress, per act June 4, 1790, grants him an annuity of ^2,500 for life, 
to commence Jan. i, 1790. Died at Steubenville, N.V., Nov. 28, 
^795-" 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 1 05 

August 13th, 1780. Extreem hott, T 
was Exceeding Sick in the afternoon took a 
puke, and by not attending to the Doctors 
Directions in taking it all at a time, when I 
was to have taken only a part, it had like to 
Carried me out of the Land of the living a 
large fatague party went to dobbs Ferry to 
fortifying, a Number of Cannon was fir'd at 
our people from a brigg and a Galley in North 
River 

14th. As hot as ever. I am much weller 
than yesterday, though but in a poor State of 
health. Nothing Remarkable this day 

15th. This was thought to be the Hottest 
Day Ever known, no Circumstances Relative 
to the Army worth Mentioning 

16th. the Extreem heat Continues. I 
was officer of the Day, Nothing Remarkable 

17th August, 1780. Heat Continues. 
Dind at Head Quarters this morning 4, "Clock 
the Brigg and Galley belonging to the Enemy 
up North River went down past dobbs ferry 
Six Cannon and Hoitzers was fired at them but 
what Dammage they received is not known, 

18th. This Day I went down to See the 
Light infantry, and went as low as E.nglish 
Neighbour Hood about 12 miles from Camp. 
Returnd by Sunsett, the officers presented me 



I06 THE DIARY OF 

with a request this morning that I might have 
a Court of Inquirey into my Conduct at 
Springfield, as a report was Spread very preju- 
ditious to my Character 

19th. Much Cooler this day then it had 
ben I was Scarce able to Sett up one hour, 
being So much unwell 

20th August, 1780. This morning 
Seemd like October and Continued Cool the 
day, Each wing of the army was ordered to 
parade togeather. as they had had two Seperate 
parades before, news from Congress this day 
that was disagreable they having reduced the 
Officers wages 50 percent, and to pay them in 
a new omition of paper Money. 

August 21st. The report of the Officers 
wages being Reduced, provd a mistake. Dind 
at Gen'. Greenes. Nothing Remarkable 

22d. Cool Morning Two Battalions Man- 
oeverd this morning one of which I Com- 
manded the Barron was present himself Rec. 
orders this Afternoon to march to tomorrow 
morning Seven "Clock, went to prepairing 
Accordingly. 

23d. the Revelle beat as usual the Gen', 
at 5 "Clock when the tents were Struck, the 
Assembly at Six when they troops all paraded, 
the March at Seven when they all Moved 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 107 

forward Marching by the right, towards English 
Neighbour hood, after Marching about 3 Miles 
the Right Wing took a road leading to 
Slaughtinburgh,' the Left a road to tennec and 
English Neighbourhood where the road that 
the right wing marched in fell in with the 
road that the left took, these roads met on a 
Large Plain at a place Calld Liberty poll ' in 
the vicinity of English Neighbourhood, here 
the Arm'y Encamped, this was an exceeding 
hott Day 

24th. Clear and hott. All the waggon 
of the Army was Collected this day and in the 
Evening went down to bergin^^ to bring off all 
the forrage The light Infantry all went down 
in frunt, and Gen'. Clintons Brigade marched 
to fort Lee ^ at burdetts ferry part of the Right 

' Probably Schraalenburgh, N.J. 

^ The original Liberty Pole, set up in 1765 and from which tlie 
place took its name, was located near the spot where the present 
Liberty Pole, set up by the Daughters of the Revolution, is placed, 
at the intersection of Palisade avenue with the road leading from 
Fort Lee, at Englevvood, NJ. 

Here in the days of the Revolution was the Liberty Pole Tavern, 
a famous place of resort for the patriots of the neighborhood. For 
many years, down to the middle of the present century, this tavern 
was the voting-place for the whole township of Hackensack. The 
house was destroyed some twenty years ago. A carefully made 
sketch of it, showing the original Liberty Pole, is in the possession 
of Miss Elizabeth Sedgewick Vaill, of Demarest, N.J. 

^ Bergen, N.J. 

■• This fortification was situated upon a sort of plateau, about 



lOS THE DIARY OF 

wing marched all so, I went off with a number 
of Gentlemen to fort Lee where 1 had a view 
of the Enemy — 

August 25, 1780. Exceeding hott, there 
was a Considerable firing this day towards New 
York but nothing remarkable Come to hand — 

26th. Extreme Hott. the Regiment was 
Mustered this Morning for the months of 
June and July, the waggons that went a forrag- 
ing begun to return this morning, an*d in the 
afternoon I and L' Jencks of my Regiment 
went down to the Infantry Camp, to See Major 
Thayer and the officers as I had Rec''. a letter 
from the State Inclosing an Act of the General 
Assembly, offering the Officers and Soldiers of 
the Continental Battalions Land for their De- 
preciation but the troops had not Returnd. 
So we rode to meet them which we did in ber- 
gin about Seven miles from their Camp, they 
had just hanged a man for plundering the in- 
habitants, he was a Pensylvanian' one of Col 

three hundred feet above the river, at the present landing and 
village of Fcrt Lee, N.J. 

A little above was a redoubt opposite Jefferys' Hook to cover 
the chcvatix-de-frise in the river. — f.ossing^s "Field Book of the 
Revolution." 

' Probably the soldier referred to by Thatcher under the same 
date as being executed for robbery. " He was one of five who broke 
into a house with their arms and rolilied tlie inhabitants of a .sum 
of money and valuable articles." " He conducted," says Thatcher, 
•' with fortitude at the gallows." 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 1 09 

Humptons Reg', he was hanged by orders of 
the Commanding Officer without a trial, I 
Returnd back to my Quarters about Ten 
"Clock in the Evening. 

August 27th, 1780. Violent hott and 
Dry — after breakfast went in Company with a 
number of the Gentlemen Officers across the 
woods to north River to a place Called Spiten 
Devils Creek against king bridg. from thence 
Down the river to burdeets ferry at fort Lee. 
we had a grand prospect of all the Enemys In- 
campments on York Island returnd to Camp 
before Eleven "Clock, there found Maj"". Thayer 
and Some of the officers of the Infantry. 

28th August, 1780. Clear and hott I 
Set off into the Country this morning on busi- 
ness went to hackensack/ Acquackanack^ and 
Springfield about i,c^ miles I Suffered greatly 
with the heat this day it being the driest time 
in this Country I ever See, lodged at M' 
Lanarcnus. 

29th. Set of this morning for Newark, 
from thence to Hackensack, in Newark fell 
in Company with Cap\ Higgens ^ who was a 

• Hackensack, N.J. ' Aquakinunk, N.J. 

'Heitman mentions a " Higgins, Robert (Va.), ist Lieutenant 
8th Virginia, 12th March, 1776; Captain, 1st March, 1777; was a 
prisoner in September, 1778; transferred to 2d Virginia, 12th 
February, 1781, and served to . . . ", who may have l)een 
the ofFicer referred to. 



no THE DIARY OF 

prisoner out on Parole, he was agoing to head 
Quarters and rode in Company with me to 
hackensack. where I was taken So 111 that I 
Could go no further where we halted and Staid 
at a Dutchmans 

30th August, 1780. Left our lodgings 
Early this Morning went to Camp and Break- 
fasted, found all well. 

31st. Cooler then it had ben, and look' 
like for rain, there was a heavy firing of Can- 
non towards the hook, which Continued all the 
day, and at Night there was a heavey thunder 
Shower with Extreem hard thunder and Sharp 
lightening, which was the first Shower that had 
ben in a longe time here and the Earth was 
the most perched that I Ever Saw it in any part 
of the world that I was in, I Saw tobaco here 
that was killd with the Drouth — 

September 1st, 1780. Cool and 
pleasant this Morning. I was exceeding much 
not well. The firing of Cannon Still Con- 
tinued at the hook the Same as yesterday but 
Nothing Remarkable this day, 

Septr 2nd, 1780. Clowdy and Cold 
with the wind in the Northeast and had raind 
a Considerable in the Night, Continued raining 
the Day, in the afternoon Rec'' Orders for the 
Army to march tomorrow morning 5 "Clock, 



COLONEL LSL^AEL ANGELL. \ \ \ 

this order was Countermanded and the Army 
was to march at Eight oClock Instead of 5, 

September 3rd, 1780. An Exceeding 
Rainey Morning, which Prevented the Army 
from marching Agreable to the Orders of yes- 
terday. L'. Col" Olney was the Officer of the 
day yesterday, and got lost in going the rounds 
Last night, lay in the woods till day Light. 
Cleard off this Afternoon plesant. Orders Came 
again for us to march tomorrow morning 

September 4th. Clear and Cooler then 
it had ben for Some time past, the Army got 
under way by ten "Clock, but met with Some 
Obstructions by Bridges breaking, which de- 
taind the rear till Eleven when the whole moved 
off the ground, we marched by the right, Crost 
what is called New bridg.' over hackensack 
River, turnd to the right up the River towards 
Toppan and Encamped on a high Ridge of 
land in a place Calld Stenrappie " 

September 5th, 1780. A Gold morn- 
ing. I Still Remaind unwell Nothing Re- 
markable happend this Day till Evening when 
there Came News that all our Army to the 

' At the time of the Revolution this was called " the New 
Bridge." The locality is now New Bridge, NJ. 

* Steenraupie, a local name signifying Stony Arabia, reaching 
along the ridge near Oradell and towards Kinderkamack, N.J. 
(j?. K. Bind, in New York " Evening Posty) 



112 THE DIARY OF 

Southward was killd taken and Disperst, Gen' 
Gates who Commanded had by Some means 
made his Escape,' 

And rode i 80 Miles in three Days before he 
Stopt, and then Could not tell what had become 
of his Army, but had Sent back a flagg to En- 
quire after them Thus Eands the Day with 
Bad news 

September 6th, 1780. Cool weather 
for the Season, Nothing Remarkable this Day, 
my Illness was more Sevear then Yesterday. 

7th. Co"l. I was freer from pain this 
morning then I had ben for Several days past. 
Nothing Remarkable happend this Day, Ex- 
cept Gen'. Sullivan arrived in Camp on his way 
to Congress being a member of that body — 

8th. Clear and Plesant. I was Officer of 
the day but Could not attend to the Duty being 
So much Unwell, 

September 9th, 1780. Clear and Very 
Cool. Rec'' News this morning of the Death 
of the Honourable Brigadier General Poor.' who 

' This refers to the disastrous battle of Camden, N.C., and the 
ignominious flight of Gates, \vho, says Fiske, " caught in the 
throng of fugitives at the beginning of the action, was borne in 
headlong flight as far as Clermont, where, taking a fresh horse, he 
made the distance of nearly two hundred miles to Hillsborough in 
less than four days." 

- Hiig.-Gen. Enoch Poor was a native of New Hampshire. 
He was a Colonel in the Continental army in the expedition against 



COLONEL ISRAEL ANGELL. II3 

departed this life Last Evening after a Short 
Illness of the putred feavour, the News from 
the Southward. Came more favourable this 
day then it had ben it is Said there is a letter 
from the Governor of Virginia that the Marry- 
land Troops ' With one regiment from North 

Canada in 1776, where he served with distinction. He was after- 
wards at Crown Point and was one of the twenty-one inferior offi- 
cers who signed a remonstrance against the decision of a council 
of officers there, consisting of Generals Gates, Schuyler, Sullivan, 
Arnold, and Woedtke, when it was resolved that the post was unten- 
able and that the army retire to Mount Independence. 

He was appointed Brigadier in 1777 and served in that capacity 
in the battles in which Burgoyne was defeated and captured. He 
soon afterwards joined the army under Washington in Pennsyl- 
vania. He was in the camp at Valley Forge, and with his brigade 
was among the first troops that commenced a pursuit of the British 
across New Jersey in the summer of 1778. 

He fought gallantly in the battle of Monmouth which succeeded. 
He commanded a brigade of light infantry in 1780, in which service 
he died, near Hackensack, in New Jersey. 

His funeral was attended by Washington and Lafayette and a 
long line of subordinate officers and soldiers. On account of the 
vicinity of the enemy the usual discharges of cannon were omitted. 
Kev. Israel Evans, Chaplain to the New Hampshire brigade, de- 
livered a funeral discourse. 

General Poor was buried in the churchyard at Hackensack, 
where a humble stone, with the following inscription, marks his 
grave : " In memory of the Hon. Brigadier-General E'.noch Poor, of 
the State of New Hampshire, who departed this life on the S^'i day 
of September, 1780, aged 44 years." 

General Poor was greatly esteemed by Lafayette, who, it is said, 
was much affected on visiting his grave when in this country in 
1825. — Notes in Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution," Vol. IL, 
pp. 122-123. 

' Of the gallantry displayed by the Second Maryland Brigade, 
under command of General Gist, at the battle of Camden, Fiske in 



I 14 THE DIARY OF 

Carolina Stood their ground fought with Chargd 
Bayonetts 15 minuts, that they Cutt the brittish 
hors nearly all ofF. the los on our Side was be- 
tween 3 and 400 Men. 

lOth Septr. 1780. Raind a little this 
Morning, but Soon Cleard oif, and was hot I 
went down to the Infantry, from thence to 
Gen'. Greenes to talk with him upon the un- 
happy affair of mine, he advised me Call a 
Court of Enquirey imeadetly. Returned to 
Camp, in the afternoon the Remains of Gen' 
Poore was Intered at hackensack Church yard, 
admidst a Numerous Concours of People ' 

his "American Revolution" says : " The Second Maryland Brigade, 
. . . after twice repelling the assault of Lord Rawdon, broke 
through his left with a splendid bayonet charge and remained victo- 
rious upon that part of the field until the rest of the fight was 
ended; when being attacked in flank by Webster (the right division 
consisting of a small corps of light infantry and the 23d and 33d 
Regiment), these stalwart troops retreated westerly by a narrow road 
between swamp and hillside and made their escape in good order." 

' Thatcher in his Military Journal describes more minutely this 
military funeral and procession : " A regiment of light infantry in uni- 
form, with arms reversed; four field pieces; Major Lee's Regiment 
of light horse; General Hand and his brigade, the major on horse- 
back; two chaplains : the horse of the deceased, with his boots and 
spurs suspended from the saddle, led by a servant; the corpse, 
borne by four sergeants and the pall supported by six general 
officers. The coffin was of mahogany, and a pair of pistols and two 
swords, crossing each other and tied with black crape, were placed 
on top. The corpse was followed by the officers of the New Hamp- 
shire Brigade, the officers of the brigade of light infantry, which the 
deceased had lately commanded. Other officers fell in promis- 



COLONEL LSRAEL AXGE/^L. II5 

Septr. nth, 1780. This day 1 applyd 
to the Commander In Chief for a Court of 
Enquiry which he was pleasd to order 
Nothing Remarkable this Day 

Septr. 12th. A Soldier ' in CoP Stewarts 

cuously, and were followed by His Excellency General Washington 
and other general officers. Having arrived at the burying yard, the 
troops opened to the right and left, resting on their arms reversed, 
and the procession passed to the grave, where a short eulogy was 
delivered liy the Rev. Mr. Evans. A band of music with a number 
of drums and fifes played a funeral dirge, the drums were muffled 
with black crape, and the officers in the procession wore crape 
round the left arm. The regiment of light infantry were in hand- 
some uniform and wore in their caps long feathers of black and 
red. The elegant regiment of horse commanded by General Lee, 
being in complete uniform and well disciplined, exhibited a martial 
and noble appearance. No scene can exceed in grandeur and 
solemnity a military funeral. The weapons of war reversed and 
embellished with the badge of mourning, the slow and regular step 
of the procession, the mournful sounds of the muffled drum and 
deep-toned instruments, playing the melancholy dirge, the majestic 
and solemn march of the war horse, all combine to impress the 
mind with emotions which no language can describe and which 
nothing but the reality can paint to the liveliest imagination. 
General Poor was from the State of New Hampshire. He was a 
true patriot, who took an early part in the cause of his country, 
and during his military career was respected for his talents and his 
bravery, and beloved for the amiable qualities of his heart. But it 
is sufficient eulogy to say that he enjoyed the confidence and 
esteem of Washington." 

' " Headquarters Steenrapie Sept. \2^^. 1780. 
" David Hall, a soldier in Col. Steward's Battalion of Light 
Infantry, convicted, at a Genl Court Martial, whereof Col. Court- 
land is President, of plun<i€ring an inhabitant of money and 
plate, and being condemned to death, is to be executed at half past 
4 o'clock this afternoon — 

"Fifty men properly officered frome very Brigade in the Army, 



Il6 THE DIARY OF 

Battalion was hanged this day on the Grand 
Parade for Plundering the Inhabitants agreable 
to the Sentence of a Gen" Court Martial : the 
Order for my Court of pjiquirey was in 
Orders, a Number of Savages of the Onido 
Nation Came to head Quarters this Day. 
there was the hardest thunder this Evening I 
ever knew) 

Septr. 13th, 1780. The whole Army 
was Ordered yesterday in After orders, to 
parade on their Brigade Parades at open Order 
to make as Great a Show as possible, to be re- 
viewed by the Commander in Chief, and the 
Indian Chiefs of the Onido Nation, the Brigad'' 
of Gen' Starks was Reviewed about 9 in the 
Morning with a Ratinue of all the Gen'. Offi- 
cers of the Army and Great part of the field 
Officers and all the Savages of note, after which 

to attend in the rear of Genl. Patterson's Brigade: — It has been 
much the Gen'ls desire to prevent enormities of this kind which 
are as repugnant to the principles of the cause in which we are 
engaged as oppressive to the inhabitants and subversive of that order 
and discipline which must characterize every well regulated Army. 
"The Gen'l again exhorts officers and soldiers of every rank to 
pay the closest attention to the conduct of their men and to use 
every precaution to prevent the soldiers from rambling and com- 
mitting such outrages, the subject of daily complaint and represen- 
tation to him. It is highly incumbent on them to do this, to pre- 
vent the consequences which will follow as he is determined to 
show no favor to soldiers who are convicted of these pernicious 
and disgraceful offences." — Rev. Order of Gen. Washington, p. 102. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 117 

we attended at the Court, but one member not 
Comming no business Could be Done. It was 
a very Rany afternoon but Nothing Remark- 
able happened 

September 1 4th, 1 780. Clear and Cool 
this Morning the Court of Enquiry Met and 
proceeded to Enquire into my Conduct on the 
12^^ of June and Examined all Evidences 
against me and adjurned til the next day 9 
^'Clock Nothing Remarkable. 

.Septr. 15th, 1780. Clear and Cold. I 
attended the Court this morning, but Major 
Reid one of the members was through mis- 
take Sent on Command and no business Could 
be done. I applyd to the Adjutant Gen', to 
git him Releaved. which he promist me Should 
be done the next day we got news this day 
that the french fleet was on the Coast. Noth- 
ing more remarkable 

September 16th, 1780. A fine Plesant 

day the Court not meeting I went down to the 
Infantry, we had news that Admiral Rodney 
was Come to the hook, and that the french 
fleet was in his rear it was reported that there 
is 13 Sail of the Line English and 25 french 
this I think is news enough for this day 

17th Septr. Plesant weather, the Court of 
Enquiry out this day and finished the Business, 



Il8 THE DIARY OF 

His Excellency Set off it is Said for hartford ' 
this Morning maney repoarts Concerning the 
French fleet but Nothing to be depended upon 
wrote to the Governor 

18th Septr. Fine weather, and Nothing 
Remarkable this day, till the Orders of the 
day Come out, when the proceedings of the 
Court of Enquiry Come to light in the fol- 
lowing words. At a Court of Enquiry Calld 
by desire of Col Angel to Enquire into a Re- 
port Relative to his being absent from his 
Regiment in the Action at Springfield the 23"' 
of June last. Col" Nixon President The Court 
having heard and duly Considered the Evi- 
dences, are unanimously of Opinion that Col 
Angell was in the Action at Springfield on the 
23'''^ of June last with his Regiment, and in the 
Execution of his duty, and Behaved like a 
Brave and Good officer" — Thus Ends the day 

' Under date of the 20th Thatcher notes, " His Excellency Gen- 
eral Washington, with the Marquis de la Fayette and General Knox, 
with a splendid retinue, left the camp on the 17th instant, bound to 
Hartford in Connecticut, to have an interview with commanding 
officers of the French fleet and army which have lately arrived at 
Rhode Island." The army, during the absence of General Wash- 
ington, was under command of Gen. Nathanael Greene, of Rhode 
Island. 

' Under the date June 29, 1780, from his headquarters at Rama- 
paugh, General Washington wrote to Governor Greene of Rhode 
Island, "The gallant behavior of Coll. Angells' regiment on the 
23'"<i inst, at Springfield, reflects the highest honor upon the officers 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. II9 

September 19th, 1780. A Raney wett 

morning, by an After order which Came to 
hand last Evening the army was to hold them- 
selves in Readiness to march at a moments 
warning, it Clard off before noon or left raining 
Steadily, but was Showery till near night. I 
was Appointed a member to Settle a dispute ' 
between Baron Stuben, and Col hazen, ' the 

and men. They disputed an important pass with so obstinate a 
bravery, that they lost upwards of forty in killed, wounded and 
missing, before they gave up their ground to a vast superiority of 
force." — R.L. Col. Records, Vol. LX.,p, i^i. 

An account of the battle of Springfield, written by Wm. Maxwell 
to His Excellency Governor Livingston from " Jersey Camp near 
Springfield 14^^ yutte, 1780," may be found in "Historical Maga- 
zine," 1859, Vol. HI., p. 211. 

' This dispute probably grew out of the affair for which Colonel 
Hazen was tried by court martial Sept. 17, 1 780, 

It appears from the Revolutionary Orders of General Washing- 
ton No. 73, Colonel Hazen was tried for " Disobedience of orders 
and unmilitary conduct on the march from Tappan to the Liberty 
Pole," in halting the brigade under his command without any orders 
from the general commanding the division; this produced a 
"vacancy in the left column of near half a mile; " he was also 
accused of falsely asserting he had received orders from General 
Stark ordering him to do so. 

Colonel Hazen was acquitted of the charges, and the finding of 
the court martial was approved by General Washington, and Colonel 
Hazen was released from arrest. No special mention is found 
of a controversy between the colonel and Steuben in the Orders of 
the Commander-in-chief. — See Rev. Order of Gen. IVashingion, 
p. 103. 

^ Moses Hazen was appointed Colonel of the Second Canadian 
Regiment in 1775. He commanded at Montreal for a short time. 

Afterwards he was appointed Colonel of a regiment called Con- 



120 THE DIARY OF 

disput was Left to the 7 oldest Officers Com- 
manding the 7 lines from the 7 States here in 
Service Newhampsheer, Col Cilley, Massachu- 
setts Genl. Glover, Rhodeisland Col Angell. 
Connecticutt Gen'. Persons New York Genl 
Clinton, New Jersy Col Dayton, Pennsylvania 
Gen'. St Clair, a troublesom world this, as Soon 
as one gits out of trouble them Selves, are 
Calld upon to Settle Disturbances with others 
all the Gentlemen met but did no business, 
and Adjurnd till the 2 1 ^'. as the whole Army 
was ordered to march to-morrow morning, to 
be under way by ten "Clock at furthest, 

September 20th, 1780. A Clowdy 
morning, the General was beat this morning at 
Seven oClock, the baggage fild off at Eight, the 
Assembly beat at 9 the troops marched a little 
past ten went to Tappan and Encamped upon 
the Same Ground we went from the 23"' of 
August past, it Raind Some this Day, and 
Remaind Clowdy the whole Day. 

gress's Own. He was in the battles of Germantown and Brandy- 
wine. 

Having charge of prisoners in Pennsylvania, he was ordered to 
designate, by lot, a British officer for retaliation in the case of Huddy 
(which may be found treated at length in Lossing's " Field Book," 
2-160). 

He died at Troy, New York, Jan. 30, 1802, aged sixty-nine 
years. — Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution,'''' Vol. II., p. iJ4- 

Heitman gives the date of his death as Feb. 3, 1803. 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 121 

Septr. 21st. a Rany morning but Soon 
broak away the Gentlemen met again this day 
to Settle the dispute between Barron Stuben and 
Col Hazen, but did not finish the business, 
went to dobbs ferry in the afternoon on our 
way back a merry Scean happened Gen' Stark 
goining to water his hors at a place Call'd the 
Stole, mired him, and got him into the mud and 
mire, the Gen'. Got out without aney damage 
Except bedaubing himself with mud, the adj. 
Gen', allso mired his hors. but he got out with- 
out difficulty. Gen'. Stark was drawd out by 
the Soldiers 

Septr. 22nd, 1780. Foggy, but Soon 
broak away hot. the Gentlemen met this day 
at Gen' S' Clears and Setteled the dispute be- 
tween Major Gen'. Barron Stuben and Col 
Hazen, to the Satisfaction of both parties there 
was a heavey Cannonade this morning Supposd 
at kings ferry but Soon heard it was at tallows 
point a little below, a british fregit lying there 
Gen'. Arnold ordered two heavey peaces down 
with one or twohoitzers in the night and opend 
his Batterey on her this morning when She was 
obligd to tow of, after having near loo Shot at 
her. 

Septr. 23d, 1780. A foggy morning but 
Soon Cleard off hott. Nothing Remarkable 



122 THE DIARY OF 

the French Minister' Came into Camp yester- 
day morning and Sett off this morning for 
Rhode Island 

September 24th, . a Clowdy, but 

Soon Cleard away hot and Remaind Exceeding 
hot for the Season of the year till the afternoon 
when it began to thunder and was a Considerable 
of thunder and lightening, and rain The Enemy 
landed from their Ship and Sloop in North 
River this morning, a little below haverstraw 
and bunt Maj''. Smiths hous and all the Grain 
and hav he had he had his barn hay and Grain 
burnt last year by the brittish privats I Capt 
Tew and Hews Rode up along Side of North 
River 6 or 7 Miles, then turnd over the Moun- 
tain in a Valle or low place & Came into the 
Road leading from Charles Town to Toppan, 
Arrived in Camp before Sunset just as it began 
to rain hard. 

' Anne Caesar de la Luzerne was born in Paris in 1 741. He 
first entered the army and was engaged in the Seven Years' War, 
during which he obtained the ranlc of Colonel. He afterwards 
turned his attention to diplomacy and became distinguished as an 
ambassador to various courts of Europe. His official relations with 
the United States Government were of four years' duration, and by 
his friendly services he gained the strong approbation of Congress 
and the warm regard of Washington. In 1781 Harvard University 
conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. In 1783 he returned to 
France and was sent ambassador to London, where he died Sept. 
14, 1 791. He cam* to this country in the same ship with John 
Adams, then the American Minister. — Stone. 



COLONEL LSRAFJ. ANGELL. 123 

September 25th, 1780. Rec'. Orders 
yesterday, or last Evening for all the whole 
Army to be under Arms this day at ten "Clock 
A.M. and formd in line of battle on a Ridg of 
high land west of orrang Town, then Changed 
their frunt to the right, this Manoever was per- 
formd by Signals, the first Cannon was a Signal 
for the troops to assemble on their Brigade 
parades, the 2"^ Gun for them to march off, and 
form the line, 3'''' Gun for them to Change their 
frunt to the right 4"' gun for the Brigades to 
march off to their Camps, all this was per- 
formd with great precision, the troops was dis- 
mist by three "Clock — we had a Cool day for 
our Manoevering there being So much thunder 
yesterday and Last Evening 

September 26th, 1780. The most Ex- 
traordinary affair happened yesterday that P>er 
has taken place Since the war, General Benedict 
Arnold who Commanded at west point went to 
the enemy," His Excellency the Commander 
in Chief ha ving ben to Hartford to meet the 

' Arnold's treason is too well understood to need any account of 
it here. It certainly is invested with a peculiar vividness and new 
interest by reading these lines written by a man of such high patriotic 
impulses as the writer who was at hand when this most horrible 
episode of the Revolution took place. For an account of a " Pro- 
cession in Honour of Arnold?" through the streets of the city of 
Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1780, see "The Historical Magazine," 1861, 
Vol. v., p. 276. 



124 Tli^ DIARY OF 

French Gen', and Admiral, was on his way to 
join the army and yesterday the Adj^ General ' 
of the Brittish Army was taken at Tarry Town 
as a Spye by three Militia men ' the news Soon 
reached west point, and on the Appearence of 
His Excellencey Comming to the post. Gen' 
Arnold went down to the River Side with Six 
men with him got into a boat went down the 
river to the English Friggat ^ that Lay there 
and went on board of her, and She Imeadetly 
Set Sail for New York, and by the best informa- 
tion he had ben Carrying on a treacherous 
Corrispondence with the Enemy, and had agreed 
to Sell them that post with all the men, but 
Heavens directed it otherways. on Receiving 
this intelligence, the whole Army was ordered 
to be readv to march as Soon as possible, we 

' Maj. John Andre, Adjutant-General of the British army. An 
interesting account of Major Andre by Colonel Tallmadge is in 
"Historical Magazine," 1859, Vol. III., p. 229. 

2 John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert. Congress 
subsequently directed that each of these receive annually two hundred 
dollars in specie, or its equivalent, during their life; a silver medal 
was also av/arded each, " one side of which shall be a shield with this 
inscription : Fidelity, and on the other the following motto : Vincit 
amor PatriccP These Washington was directed to present to them 
with a copy of the resolution of Congress. A letter reflecting on the 
patriotism and integrity of the captors of Andre, written by (Jen. 
Joshua King, a Lieutenant in Colonel Sheldon's Regiment of Light 
Dragoons, and who first had charge of Andre, is printed in " The 
Historical Magazine," 1857, Vol. L, p. 293; see also pp. 313-375. 

^ British sloop-of-war "Vulture." 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 125 

all turnd out went to Cooking and packing up 
their Baggage the Pennsylvania line marched of 
and left their Baggage to follow it being Expected 
that the Enemy would attempt to take west 
point this night the News Come to us alittle 
after midnight, had not this horrid Treason ben 
discovered America would have Rec''. a deadly 
wound if not a fatal Stabb. 

Septr. 27th, 1780. Clowdy and Cold 

with a high wind from the Northeast, begun to 

Storm about the middle of the day, and was a 

Cold rany Afternoon, we had News Come this 

day that on Joseph Smith ' was taken up as a 

Spye from the Enemy and brought to west 

point where the Commander in Chief was, he 

Came out of New York with M"". Andrew the 

Brittish adjutant General and it was thought 

that they would both Grace a halter togeather. 

Septr. 28th, 1780. It Cleard away this 

Morning and was cold, after dinner I with 

a Number of the Officers of the Army road 

out to Meet His Excellencey on his return to the 

Army, but after riding Six or Seven miles heard 

' This was Joshua Smith, a confederate of Andre's. He was tried 
by court martial, but there being no positive proof against him, he 
escaped death, but was ordered into confinement, but after several 
months, either from lacl< of vigilance on the part of his keepers or 
from indifference, he was allowed to escape to New York.— 
Thatcher. 



126 THE DIARY OF 

he had taken another road, therefore turnd 
another way back without Seeing him, M"" 
Smith and the Brittish Adj'. Gen', was allso 
Comming on with a Guard of draggoon 

Septr. 29th. The two prisoners Come to 
Camp last evening, a flagg Came this day from 
the Enemy Sir Hary Clinton made a demand 
of M'' Andrew the Kings adj' Gen', Saying he 
Came out as a flagg and ought not to be de- 
taind. 

Septr. 30th, 1780. A board of Gen'. 
Officers Sat this day on M'' Andrew and con- 
demnd him as a Spy, to Suffer death, the Com- 
mander in Chief approvd the Sentence and 
ordered it put in Execution tomorrow five 
oClock in the afternoon, a flagg was Sent from 
head Quarters by the way of Elizabethtown to 
the Enemy, and one Came from the Enemy to 
dobbes ferry, and brought a number of things 
from the Enemy to Maj*^ Andrews his Servant 
Came in the flagg. I was Officer of the Day. 



COLOXEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 12 J 



PART SIXTH. 



THE concluding part of the diary begins 
with Feb. 14, i78i,and ends April 3, 1781. 
It details the last days of Colonel Angell's 
services in the army, of his journey from his 
home in Johnston, R.I., to West Point and re- 
turn, and also includes a few days of retirement, 
after long years of faithful and conspicuous 
service with the Rhode Island Continental line. 

Feby. 14th, 1781. Left my hous this 
Morning went to Mr Dorrances ' in Voluntown 
16 Miles then breakfasted went to Mr Reppley 
in Scotland 16 Miles tTien Dined then went to 
M^ Hill in Lebanon 10 Miles there put up 
for the day 42 

Feby. 15th, 1781. Left my lodgings 
early this morning went to Mr white Break- 
fasted then went to Hartford but could get no 

' Dorrance's Tavern was a popular place of resort. It was not 
unlike most of the public houses at this period, and it is related 
that fast young men of most respectable families " drank Geneva rum 
on a wager at Dorrance's Tavern till all were drunk," and then started 
off" for a Voluntown frolic." — Larned,'^ Windham County," Vol. 
IL,p.23S. 



128 THE DIARY OF 

dinner then rode about three miles on towards 
Farmington there Din'd then went to Farming- 
ton there tarried — 42 miles 

Feby. 16th, 1781. Left my Lodgings 
this Morning went on about Six miles then 
Breakfasted and got one of my horses shod then 
went to Waterbury there Din'd then went to 
South Bury Doctor Grahams then put up for 
the Night I met a Number of the men of my 
Regt a going home this Day. 

Feby. 17th, 1780 (?)'. Left my Lodg- 
ings this morning went on to Newtown from 
thence to Danbury there Din'd then went on 
for Cam.p but missing my way and being be- 
nighted put up at a log hous tavern in the 
mountains where for fear of being Rob'd could 
sleep but little. 

Feby. 14th, 1781. 

Paid at Dorrances Tavern X^~ 4~ ^ 

do at Rippleys in Scotland o— 3-10 

Paid for Oats o- i - o 

Paid Mr Hills 0-6-0 

do at Mr White 0-4-5 

Do for Oats o - i - o 

Do for ferriage o— i — o 

Do 3-6 

Do for lodgings o- 8-4 

Do for Oats and Breakfast 0-3-0 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. I 29 



Do for Dinner and hors 


Baiting 




4- 


6 


Do Lodgings Suppers hors Keep- | 
ing Doctor Grahams ) 


0- 


9- 


4 


Do Breakfast 




0- 


3- 


-) 


Do Dinner 




0- 


5- 


10 


carried over 


— 


18- 


1 1 


Supper and lodging 
Hors keeping &c 
Breakfast 




0- 
0- 


9- 

_ 



6 


Sum brought over 




2- 


18- 


1 1 



Total Expenses to Camp 3 - i - i 5 
To my Expences from Camp to 

West Point and back from the 

21'' of Feb to the 22 £0 ^ 9, o 

To my Expences in paying of ^| 

the men and going to west V 0-12- o 

point from the 24th to the 27 J 
March 10-1781 To my Ex-^ 

pences from West Point to > o- 7- o 

New Winsor J 

To my Expenses while at West | 

Point paid M'' Mandaill j 

To Cash paid Rufus ' for the \ 

Expences of get'ing the horses V o-io- o 

to Camp J 

6- 6- 4 

' Rufus Chapman. 



I- 7- 



o - 9 ~ o 



130 THE DIARY OF 

16 March To Cash paid Rufus X^~ 9-0 

18 To Cash for my Expences ) ._ 

while at West Point j 

19 To Cash paid the widow 

Brewer 2 - 1 1 - 9 

20 To Cash paid o - 8-0 
1 1 To Cash paid for myself and ) 

hors keeping j 

Do To Cash for Oats o - 1-6 

Do To Cash for Dinner and 

baitings for Horses o - 5 - i 

To Cash paid Coles Tavern^ 

for his hors keeping and V o— 10- 6 
lodging J 

for hors hire o - 4 - 6 

for hors keeping o - 6 - o 

For hors keeping and lodg- 
ing 

For hors keeping and break- 
fast 

To Dinner and baiting 

To hors hire in getting the 
Waggon along 

6- 18- 10 
24 March 1781. 

Paid for hors Keeping and 

lodging L^~ 16 - 6 



o- I I - o 



0- 


8- 


- 


3-[; 


- 


5-[] 



COLONEL LSRAEL AN CELL. 131 

To Cash for baiting o — i - 6 

To Cash for do 1-2 

25 To Cash for Entertainmt 11 — 6 

To Cash for Dinner an 

baiting 8 - 6 

Brought over from the other 

Pages 13- 5- 3 

To Cash for hors hire o - 4 - 6 

To Cash paid Peleg Peck for 

hors hire o - 3 — o 

To Cash paid Elesha Barns 

for hors hire o — 1— 6 

To Cash paid Crage for 

hors keeping o - 9—0 

To Mony paid Rufus for 

Expences 1-4-0 



17- 7- 5 



My Baggage was twelve days in Comming 
from West Point 

Feby. 18th, 1781. Left my lodging this 
morning went to Camp found all well the men 
was so Rejoist at seeing me that they gave three 
Chears I immeditly went to paying off the 
troops 

19th. Continued Close to my hutt paying 
the men Col" Greene Sent me a billet desiring 
me to Come to his Quarters this Evening but 



132 THE D/.IA'Y OF 

I could not attend on account of paying the 
men ofF. 

20th. This day I finished paying all Ex- 
cept the light Infantry which marched off the 
day I come into Camp the Regt. had orders to 
march tomorrow for west point. 

21st. The troops marched this Morning 
agreeable to the Orders of yesterday 1 set off 
with them went to Colo Greene Quarters there 
Din'd then went to west Point Crost the River 
but could not get my hors over Returned after 
Dark Recrost a Miry Marsh to a hous where 
we got lodgings but nothing for ourselves or 
horses to Eat. 

22d. This morning it Storming 1 and Col. 
Greene sett off to go the Point or Fort but 
met the Greatest part of the troops a Re- 
turning Againe having lain on Constitution 
Island ' all the night in the Storm as they Got 
but one boat load over after I and Col" Greene 
Crosst before the boats was carried away by the 
Ice with five men in it the Men nor boat Could 
not be heard of this day. by Eleven o'clock 



' Constitution Island lies opposite West Point; a substantial work 
called Fort Constitution was located on the island. One end of the 
immense chain which was stretched across the Hudson, May, 1778, 
to prevent the passage of the enemy's ships, was anchored on this 
island just below the present steamboat landing. Links of this 
chain may yet be seen at West Point. 



COLONEL LSRAEL ANGELL. 133 

Col. Green and myself went to his Q" from 
thence I went to the hutts found Capt Brown 
preparing for to Defend the baggage by making 
a block house of one of the huts 

23d Feby. A Stormy Day I remaind 
this Day in the hutts. 

24th. This Day went to Col° Greens Qrs 
there tarried all Night the Troops that marched 
for the point the 21 and Came back to the New 
Hampshire hutts Marched again to Day. 

25th. Col. Greene and myself Sett of for 
the point Early in the Morning went to M' 
Mandavils there left our horses then went to 
Cross the ferry but found it all Blockt up with 
the Ice we then Crost the flatts upon the Ice 
to Constitution Island where we Crost just be- 
fore Night on our way Cros the Ice Ensign 
John Rogers fell through over a deep Creek 
ketched and hung by his arms we Indeavored to 
get rails to throw to him but could find none 
but some short peaces at length I thought of 
tying my Great Coat and Col Greenes together 
and then tying them to a Stick with the help of 
two little boys got it to him & Drawed him out 
but I would not have run the risk I did for all 
the State of New York had it not been to save 
life Storm'd near all this Day. 

26th Feby. We Spent this day in trying 



134 THE DIARY OF 

to Cross the ferry which we Effected just at 
Sunsett tarried at M' Mandavils 

27th Feby, 1781. Left M"" Mandavils 
this morning after Breakfast went to Col. Law- 
rences O^^ Peeks kill there met L' Joseph 
Wheaton and paid the money for the Infantry 
to him then went to the hutts and there dined 
lodged at the Widow Brewers. 

28th Feby. This day was plesant as 
Summer I spent the Same at the hutts at night 
went to the Widow Brewer there tarried. 

March 1st, 1781. After Breakfast went to 
Col" Greenes Quarters there Spent the Day it 
being Clowdy and Cold and allso tarried this 
night with Col" Greene in the Evening there 
came a letter from Gen' Heath Informing Col. 
Greene that the French Ships that went from 
New- Port had taken the Romolus of fifty guns 
and Nine sail of privateers and transports of 
Chesepeck Bay. 

March 2d, 1781. Clowdy weet and Cold 
after Breakfast Col. Greene and I went to the 
hutts the man I had Sent after my horses re- 
turn'd this day without them the Order being 
from Col. Greene and not from the D. Q. M 
General was Obligid to Send off again Din'd 
at the hutts then went to the Widow Brewers 
where I proposed to stay Col. Greene went to 
his Quarters 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. I 35 

March 3d, 1781. Good weather and 
Nothing Remarkable Spent the Day at the 
hutts tarried at the widow Brewers 

4th. Clear and plesant the Baggage of the 
Reg' that was left at the hutts was ordered on 
for west Point as was all the troops Except a 
Guard of 42 men I sent Rufus Chapman ' after 
horses 

5th. Clowdy before breakfast Rufus re- 
turn'd from fishkill and had got no horses upon 
which I set off Imeadetly for west point It 
soon began to Storm and stormed very hard I 
arrived at M' Mandavels by 12 oclock where I 
put up for this day and night Col Green Come 
from the point in the evening. 

March 6th, 1781. This morning after 
breakfast 1 & Col Greene went over to the 
Point he being president of a Court Martial 
after dining on the point Returned to M' Man- 
davils and went to the hospital at Robinsons 



' Rufus Chapman, tenth child of Stephen and Leuriah (Sanger) 
Chapman, was born Oct. 26, 1744, and died in May, 1848. He was 
married May 19, 1770, to Dorcas Sewall, of Exeter; they had one 
daughter. He is said to have charged his wife with being a witch, 
and he separated from her. He was a member of Capt. Stephen 
Kimball's Company, in Col. Daniel Hitchcock's Regiment, of the 
Army of Observation, 1775. See my " Revolutionary Defences in 
Rhode Island," page 6. Rufus Chapman was pensioned June 26, 
1819, as a private of the Rhode Island Line. — Senate Documents 
Pension Roll. 



136 THE DIARY OF 

Hous' returned to our Quarters in the Evening 
this Day was Clowdy but did not storm. 

March 7th, 1 78 1 . A stormy morning with 
Snow & Rain after breakfast Col. Greene went 
for west Point but it stormed so that I thought it 
best to remain where I was which I did the Day. 

8th March, 1781. Went over to the 
Point this morning after breakfast in the after- 
noon went for New Winsor in a Boat where 1 
arrived about Eight o'clock in the Evening. 

9th March. Clear Breakfasted with the 
Adj. General then paid off what men there was 
here then went to Newburgh in the Gen' 
[ ] Returned in the Evening. 

10th. Left winsor this morning after 
Breakfast in a Boat with some Country people 
went to west point it Snowed the great part of 
the passage which made it very Dissagreable 
the Distance being about 8 miles I arrived at 

' The Robinson House was the headquarters of Generals Putnam 
and Parsons in 1778-9. It took its name from Col. Beverly Robin- 
son, its owner. What gives it more historic interest, however, is the 
fact that it was here, while at breakfast with his family and military 
guests, Benedict Arnold received the note from Colonel Jameson 
apprising him of the capture of Major Andre, and from whence he 
fled to the British sloop-of-war "Vulture." From this house 
General Washington wrote, Sept. 26, 1780, to General Heath in- 
forming him of the treason of Arnold. — Heath'' s Memoirs, p. 2jj. 

Thatcher, in his Journal, under the date of April 12, 1781, writes 
that he " crossed the Hudson to the hospital at Robinson's House 
and passed the night with Dr. Eustis." 



CJLONEL ISRAEL AXG^LL. I 3/ 

the Garrison about Two O'Clock Dined then 
went over to M"" Mandavells there tarried. 

11th March, 1 78 1 . Clear plesant weather 
over head but bad under foot after breakfast 1 
and Col Greene went to the point where we 
spent the Day in the afternoon Come over and 
went up upon the Mountain to the North 
Redoubt ' then to our Quarters. 

March 12th, 1781. Good weather after 
Breakfast I sett of for the hutts where I din'd 
& spent the Day. 

13th. Cold and windy this Day there was 
an Allarm on which the Militia was called to- 
geather but it proving to be a false Allarm 
they were Dismist. 

14th. Clowdy and raind this Day nothing 
Remarkable 

15th. A pleasant Morning but Soon 
Clowded over and raind in the afternoon the 
horses Sent for to Carry my Baggage to Rhode 
Island. News came this evening Arnold and 
his party was taken. 

' The North Redoubt at West Point had an armament of three 
iron eighteen-pounders and three iron twelve-pounders. It is tliu-; 
described in the " Remarks on Works at West Point " : "North Re- 
doubt, on the East side, built of stone 4 feet high ; above the stone, 
wood filled in with I]arth, very Dry. No ditch : a Bomb Proof, 
three Batteries within the Fort, a poor Abattis a Rising piece of 
ground 500 yards So. the approaches Under Cover to within 20 
yards. The work easily tired with Faggots dipt in Pitch &c." 



138 % THE DIARY OF 

16th. Good weather my Baggage Set off 
this morning for Rhode Island after Breakfast 
I set off for west Point went to Mr, Manda- 
vills where I tarried. 

17th riarch, 1781. Good weather a 
great parade this day with the Irish it being St 
Patariclvs. I spent the day on the point and 
Tarried with the Officers. 

18th. After Breakfast I set off on my 
Jorney for New England went to Mr Manda- 
vills there Dind then went to M''^ Brewers my 
old Quarters this day was more like April than 
March 

19th. Clowdy and Rained a little after 
Breakfast I set off went to the hutts there 
having some business which detained me till 
after Dinner. When I set off for Danbury 
where I arrived in the Evening it rained all 
the Afternoon very hard and worse riding could 
not be. 

20th flarch, 1781. Clear good weather 
over head but muddy under foot after break- 
fast set forward went as tar as Bostic there put 
up for the night having overtaken my waggon. 
21st. Clear and Good weather after Break- 
fast went on as far as Southerington there dined 
at Curtisses Tavern then went to Mr. Coles in 
Farmington there put up for the night. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AXGELL. 139 

22d March, 1781. Left my lodgings 
after Breakfast went to hartford met with Capt 
Humphrey tarried there was obliged to hire a 
hors to help me on as far as hartford. 

23d. A Stormy morning Crost the ferry 
to East Hartford, breakfasted went on to Hill's 
Tavern 8 mile there Halted for the waggon to 
come up which did not Arive till 3 o'clock the 
horses being tired out I hired a man to help 
me on as far as bolton where I halted that 
night. 

24th. This morning being Clear there 
come two teams early a going to Canterbury 
and hired them to help me on upwards of twenty 
miles I rode on as far as Canterbury Stopt and 
Din'd in Scottand Put up at Landlord Back- 
uses but the waggon Didnot git up till the 
morning following. 

25th riarch, 178L Clear and Cold My 
waggon Come up this Morning after breakfast 
I set forward after having hired Capt Cacon 
to help me on as far as Dorrances in Vollen- 
town where I arrived and Dined then went on 
to my own hous found my family well, left 
my waggon to come on as fast as possible and 
thus Lands the Service with me. ' 

' By the Act of Congress of Oct. 3, 17S0, the two Continental 
Regiments of Rhode Island were reduced to one, to take effect 
Jan. I, 1 781. By this arrangement Colonel Angell reiired, and 



140 '///A DIARY OF 

26th riarch. Clear and Coid but soon 
Clowded over 1 hired Peleg Peck to go help 
my waggon on which arrived in the Evening. 

27th March, 1781. After Breakfast I 
set off for Providence where I spent the Day 
at Evening went to my fathers and tarried 
news Come of the french fleet returning. 

28th. Spent the forenoon at my fathers it 
being Exceeding Cold and unpleasant after 
Dinner went to Providence was informed that 
the french fleet was actually return'd and had 
had an Engagement with the English fleet but 
the particulars was not known one Circum- 
stance in my journal of yesterday I forgot to 
mention that is I had the Pleasure of seeing 
Uncle James Angell, at my fathers who had 
not been there in 22 years before on acct. of 
some misunderstanding between him and my 
father. 

29th March, 1781. Cold and Clowdy 
Snowed some but cleared off in the afternoon 
with a severe March wind and cold. 

30th Harch. Clear and Cold with a vio- 
lent high wind Nothing Remarkable. 

31st. A toUerable pleasant day after 

Christopher Green succeeded to the colonelcy of the consolidated 
regiment, who was succeeded a few uioiiths later by Lieut.-Col, 
Commandant Jeremiah Olney. 



COLONEL ISRAEL AN CELL. 141 

Breakfast I went to Providence where it was 
currently Reported that the French fleet behaved 
Gallantly in the action with the british and 
that the English fleet ran away from them 
Returned in the Evening. 

April 1st, 1781. Clear and Springlike 
weather this morning but Soon Clowded over 
and the wind blew up at South very raw and 
Cold there was a meating held at my hous this 
day 

2d. A violint Storm Set in last night and 
Continued this Day the Storm begun with 
Snow but before the middle of the Day turn'd 
to rain and by night had carried off" the Greatest 
part of the Snow. 

3d. It Still Continued Storming and had 
Snowed the Greatest part of the night and was 
a Considerable of Snow on the Ground but 
there being so much water made it Shocking 
Traveling. 



INDEX. 



ACOXET, 51, 53. 

Albro, Robert, 67. 

Allen, William, Capt., 41, 65. 

Andre, John, Major, 124. 

Andrews, Major, 126. 

Andrews, Mr., 42, 125, 126. 

Angell, Isaac, 41, 43. 

Angell, Israel, Col., 102, 118, 

120. 
Angell, James, 140. 
Angell, Jason, 14, 40. 
Angell, Samuel, 60. 
Aquakinunk, 109. 
Arnold, 137. 

Arnold, Benedict, Gen., 123. 
Arnold, Fort, 97. 
Arnold, Gen., 121, 124. 
Arnold, Noyes, Lieut., 10. 
Arro Smith, Edmund, Capt., 

42, 43- 

Backus, Landlord, 139. 
Barber's Height, 56, 65, 69. 
Barnes, Elisha, 131. 
Barney, Daniel, 82. 
Barrington, 68. 
Bay, Chesapeake, 134. 
Beaver-Tail Lighthouse, 85. 
Bergen, 107, 108. 
Bird, Benjamin, 53. 
Bishop Benoni, 91. 



Block Island, 71, 77. 
Blodget, Major, 5. 
Bolton, 94, 139. 
Boss, Lieut., 104. 
Bostic, 138. 

Boston, 4, 35, 42, 45, 75. 
Boston Neck, 35, 51, 61, 65, 72. 
Bowen, Jabez, Gov., 67. 
Box, Daniel, Major, 43. 
Bradford's Hill, 12. 
Bradford, Priscilla, Mrs., 20. 
Bradford, William, Gov., i, 46, 

76. 
Brenton's Neck, 88. 
Brewer, Widow, 130, 134, 135, 

1 38. 
Bridge, Greene's, 70. 
Bridge, Kickamuit, 11, 53. 
Bridge, Kings, 109. 
Bridge, New, iii. 
Bristol, II, 12, 16, 19, 30, 32. 
Bristol Ferry, 13, 90. 
Brown, Capt.. 133. 
Brown, Waity, 99, 102. 
Burdett's Ferry, 107, 109. 
Butts Hill, 8. 

Cacon, Capt., 139. 
Canterbury, 139. 
CaroHna, North, 114. 
Carolina, South, 64. 



143 



144 



INDEX. 



Carpenter, Lieut., 44. 
Carpenter, Qr. Master, 13, 15. 
Chaffee, Noah, Serg't, 80, 8 1 , 92. 
Chapin, Lieut., 27. 
Chapman, Rufus, 129, 130, 131. 

135- 
Charlestown, 64, 122. 
Chesapeake Bay, 134. 
Church Yard, Hackensack, 1 14. 
Cilley, Col., 120. 
Clefford, 80. 
Chnton, Gen., 107, 120. 
CUnton, Harry, Sir, 126. 
Cole, Mr., 82, 138. 
Conanicut Island, 72, 79, 81, 

82, 83, 85, 87, 88. 
Congdon, Joseph, 89. 
Connecticut, 75, 120. 
Constitution Island, 132, 133. 
Cook, John, Lieut., 59. 
Cornelius, Elias, Dr., 22, 94. 
Cornell, Ezekiel, Gen., 11. 
Cranston, 14. 

Creek, Spitting Devils, 109. 
Croton River, 100. 
Curtis Tavern, 138. 

Danbury, 95, 98, 128, 138. 
Dayton, Col., 120. 
DeEstaing, Count, 3, 77. 
DeLafayette, Marquis, 14. 
Deruce, John, 64, 67. 
Dexter, David, Capt., 38. 
Dexter, Lieut., 15. 
Dighton, 73. 

Dobb's Ferry, 105, 121, 126. 
Dorrance, Mr., 94, 102, 127, 

128, 139. 
Dunop, Count, 85. 



Durfee, Mr., 90. 
Dutch Island, 63, 72, 79. 
Dyer, John, Col., 62, 83. 
Dyer, Samuel, 100. 

East Greenwich, 56. 

East Hartford, 139. 

Edmunds, William, 92. 

Elizabethtown, 126. 

Elliott, Col., 39. 

English N eighborhood, 105,107. 

Exceen, John, 27. 

Fairfield, 63, 64. 

Farmingtown, 94, 128, 138. 

Ferry, Bristol, 13, 90. 

Ferry, Burdett's, 107, 109. 

Ferry, Dobb's, 105, 121, 126. 

Ferry, Holland's, 11. 

Ferry,. King's, 65, 100, 121. 

Feri-y, Tockwotton, 34, 

Fenner, Major, 16. 

Fenner, Richard, Jr., Major, 39. 

Fishkill, 98, 135. 

Fisk, Caleb, Dr., 24. 

Fisk, Joseph, Landlord, 24. 

Flagg, Ebenezer, Major, 56, 61. 

Flint, Widow, 94. 

Forbes, Mr., 94, 102. 

Fort Arnold, 97. 

Fort Lee, 107, 108, 109. 

Fort Putnam, 96. 

Fowler, 67. 

Frothingham, Ebenezer, 39. 

Gardner, John, Col., 82. 
Gardner, Major, 56, 72. 
Gardner, Mr., 57. 
Gates, Horatio, Gen., 51, 69, 
80, 84, 1 12. 



INDEX. 



145 



Georgia, 51, 77. 

Gilly, Robert, 91. 

Glover, John, Gen., 11, 61, 95, 

120. 
Goat Island, 89. 
Gould, John, 80, 81. 
Graham, Dr., 128, 129. 
Grant, Samuel, 92. 
Greene's Bridge, 70. 
Greene, Christopher, Col., 7, 15. 
Greene, Col., 56, 59, 61, 65, 78, 

89, 90, 91, 95, 96, 98, 131, 

132, 133' 134, 135. 136, 137- 
Greene, Col. Com'd't, 11. 
Greene, Gov., Mrs., 86. 
Greene, Grififin, 95, 96, 98. 
Greene, Jonathan, 83. 
(ireene, Nathaniel, Gen., 4, 106, 

114. 
Greene, William, Jr., Gov., 59. 
Greenwich, 11, 15, 57, 59, 61, 

69. 70, 77. 78, 79. 90. 91- 
Greenwich, East, 56. 

Hackens.\ck, 109, no. 
Hackensack Churchyard, 114. 
Hackensack River, in. 
Hagan, Francis, Dr., 49. 
Hamlin, Daniel, Ensign, 38. 
Hartford, 94, 118, 123, 127, 139. 
Hartford, East, 139. 
Haverstraw, 122. 
Hazard, 67. 
Hazard, Stanton, 73. 
Hazen, Moses, 119, 121. 
Heath, Gen., 134. 
Hegron, 81. 

Height, Barber's, 56, 65, 69. 
Herenden, Thomas, 85. 



Higgins, Robert, Capt., 109. 

Hill, Bradford's, 12. 

Hill, Butt's, 8. 

Hill, Little Rest, 76. 

Hill, Mr., 52, 94, 127, 128. 

Hill, Quaker, 8. 

Hill, Tower, 63. 

Hoight, Jonathan, Sergt., 99, 

102. 
Hopkins, Elder, 24. 
Howland's Ferry, 11. 
Hudson River, 100. 
Hughes, Thomas, Capt., 16, 70, 

79, 83, 122. 
Humphrey, William, Capt., 57, 

139- 
Humpton, Col., 109. 
Huntington, Ebenezer, Major, 

5, 20, 29, 31. 

Independence, Mount, 97. 

Island, Block, 71, 77. 

Island, Conanicut, 72, 79, 81, 

82, 83, 85, 87, 88. 
Island, Constitution, 132, 133. 
Island, Dutch, 63, 72, 79. 
Island, Goat, 89. 
Island, Long, 95. 
Island, Prudence, 32. 
Island, York, 109. 

Jackson, Col., 51, 90, 91. 
Jacobs, Col., 2. 
Jacobs, William, 57. 
Jerauld, Dutee, Lieut., 54. 
Jencks, Lieut., ic8. 
Johnston, 16, 55, 59. 
Judith, Point, 66, 71, 73, 84. 
Judds, Mr., 94. 



146 



INDEX. 



Kakaat, 100. 
Kickamuit Bridge, 11, 53. 
Kickamuit River, 54. 
King, Benjamin, 16. 
Kings Bridge, 109. 
Kings Ferry, 65, 100, 121. 
Kingstown, North, 93, 102. 

Lanarcnus, Mr., 109. 
Lawrence, Col., 134. 
Lebanon, 127. 
Lee, Fort, 107, 108, 109. 
Liberty-Pole, 107. 
Lighthouse, Beaver Tail, 85. 
Little Rest Hill, 76. 
Littlefield, William, Lieut., 46. 
Livingston, Col., 32, 88, 90, 98, 

loi. 
Livingston, Henry Beekman, 

Col., 5. 
Livingston, James, Col., 38. 
Lobb, James, 54. 
Loizcan, Augustus, Capt., 38. 
Long Island, 95. 
Lord, Mr., 94. 
Lovell, Nathaniel, 102. 
Luther, Benjamin, 23, 24. 
Luther, Consider, 18. 
Luther, Mr., 59, 68, 93. 
Luttenton, Col., 98. 
Luzerne, Anne Caesar de la, 

122. 

Macomber, Ebenezer, Lieut., 

81. 
Maiideville, Mr., 129, 133, 134, 

135. '37, 138- 
Massachusetts, 120. 
Melleries, Mr., 95. 



Miller, Nathan, Gen., 52. 
Milhmen, George, 69, 71. 
Mitchel, Quartermaster, 98. 
Monmouth, 56. 
Morristown, loi. 
Mount Independence, 97. 
Mowry, Mr., 64. 

Neck, Boston, 35, 51, 61, 65, 

72. 
Neck, Brenton's, 88. 
Neck, Wanvick, 69. 
Neighborhood, English, 105, 

107. 
Newark, 109. 
New Bedford, 13, 14, 32. 
Newberg, 98, 136. 
New Bridge, 1 11. 
New England, 138. 
New Hampshire, 120, 133. 
New Haven, 63. 
New Jersey, 99, 120. 
New London, 63, 73, 89. 
Newport, 24, 66, 82, 86, 87, 88, 

134- 
Newtown, Updike's, 32, 56, 62, 

64, 75' 95- 99' 102, 128. 
New Winsor, 97, 129, 136. 
New York, 7, 10, 77, 78, 95, 

108, 120, 124, 125, 133. 
Nicholson, George C, Major, 

96. 
Nixon, Col., 118. 
North Carolina, 114. 
North Kingstown, 93, 102. 
North Providence, 61. 
North River, 65, 67, 98, 104, 

105, 109, 122. 
Northup, John, Judge, 77. 



INDEX. 



147 



Olney, Coggeshall, Capt., 71, 

76. 
Olney, Col, 4, 20, 34, 46, 47, 

57. 70. Ih 76, 78. 82, 84, 91, 

92, 95- 
Olney, Jeremiah, Col., 12. 
Olney, Joseph, Capt., 61. 
Olney, Lt. Col., 20, 26, 36, 70, 

73, 79, 81, III. 
Olney, Stephen, Capt., 30, 76. 
Oiangetown, 123. 

Patterson, Gen., 96. 

Paulding, John, 124. 

Pawtuxet, 14. 

Pearce, Richard, 27. 

Peck, Ebenezer, 34. 

Peck, Peleg, 131, 140. 

Peck's Rocks, 51. 

Peck, William, Col., 49. 

Peekskill, 134. 

Pennsylvania, 120. 

Penobscot, 72. 

Persons, Gen., 120. 

Peters, Andrew, Maj., 96. 

Phillips, Peter, 66, 93. 

Phillips, Stephen, 85. 

Pillar, John, 27. 

Point Judith, 66, 71, 73, 84. 

Point, Quonset, 62. 

Point, Rome's, 86. 

Point, Stony, 65, 66. 

Point, Tallow's, 121. 

Point, West, 96, 123, 124, 125, 

129, 130, 131, 132, 135, 136, 

138. 
Pompton, loi. 
Poor, Enoch, Brig.-Gen., 112, 

114. 



Poppasquash, 20. 

Potter, Thomas, Col., 76. 

Pratt, William, Ensign, 62. 

Price, Edward, Lieut., 39. 

Proctor, William,Sergt.-Maj.,27. 

Prudence Island, 32. 

Providence, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 
15, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26,30, 31, 
32, 34, 36, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 
47. 48, 51. 54, 57. 59. 60, 65, 
67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 78, 
79, 81, 83, 84, 90, 91, 92, 100, 
140, 141. 

Providence, North, 61. 

Putnam, Fort, 96. 

QiTAKER Hill, 8. 
Quonset Point, 62. 

Ramapaugh, 100. 

Red Banks, 84. 

Rehoboth, 34. 

Reid, Major, 117. 

Rhode Island, 13, 15, 26, 27, 

73' 78. 95,99, 100, 120, 123, 

137, 138. 
Ripley, Mr., 127, 128. 
River, Croton, 100. 
River, Hackensack, iii. 
River, Hudson, 100. 
River, Kickamuit, 54. 
River, North, 65, 67, 98, 104, 

105, 109, 122. 
River, Warren, 14, 32, 68, 69. 
Road, Ten- Rod, 83. 
Rocks, Peck's, 51. 
Rodney, Admiral, 117. 
Rogers, John, Ensign, 81, 91, 

13.3- 



148 



INDEX. 



Rome, George, 57. 
Rome's Point, 86. 
Roxbury, 35. 

Sands, Ray, Col., 63. 

Sandy Hook, 77. 

Santa Cruz, 57. 

Sayles, Lieut., 70, 83. 

Schraalenburgh, 107. 

Scituate, 92. 

Scotland, 94, 127, 128, 139. 

Seekonk, 75. 

Sherburne, Col., 16, 20, 46, 51, 

90, lOI. 
Sherrads, Col., 100. 
Simmons, 3. 

Slack, Benjamin, Dr., 23. 
Smith, Capt., 45. 
Smith, Edmund Arro, Cap't,, 

42, 43- 
Smithfield, 92. 
Smith, Joshua, 125. 
Smith, Major, 122. 
Smith, Mr., 126. 
Smith, Thomas, 93. 
Southbury, 95, 128. 
South Carolina, 64. 
Southerington, 94, 138. 
Sphting Devil's Creek, 109. 
Springfield, 98, 106, 109, 118. 
Stamford, 98. 
Stark, Gen., 69, 84, 88, 90, 94, 

loi, 116, 121. 
St. Clair, Gen., 120, 121. 
Steenraupie, 1 1 1. 
Stevens, Mr., 59. 
Stewart, Col, 115. 
Stole, 121. 
Stony Point, 65, 66. 



Sullivan, Gen., 10, 14, 31, ii?. 

Swansea, 52. 

Sweeting, Job, Capt., 60. 

Talbot, Silas, Col., 41, 73. 

Tallow's Point, 121. 

Tarrytown, 124. 

Tavern, Curtis's, 13S. 

Tenney, Samuel, Dr., 77. 

Ten-Rod Road, 83. 

Tew, William, Capt., 32, 69, 

122. 
Thayer, Simeon, Major, 26, 34, 

36, 43, 46, 64, 65, 70, 72, 79, 

81, 82, 83, 92, 95, 100, 108, 

109. 
Thomas, John, 82. 
Thomas, Mrs., 99. 
Thompson, Charles, Chaplain, 

19. 32. 
Thornton, Daniel, 43. 
Thrasher, Joseph, 60, 64. 
Tiverton, 36. 
Tockwotton Ferry, 34. 
Toppan, III, 120, 122. 
Tower Hill, 63. 
Twitchel, 67. 

Updike's Newtown, 32, 56, 

62, 64, 75, 95, 99, 102, 128. 
Usher, Freelove, Mrs., 23. 
Usher, John, 93. 

Van Courtlandt, Philip, 

Col., IC2. 

Van Weit, Isaac, 124. 
Varnum, James Mitchell, Gen., 

6, II, 14, 15, 20, 22, 30, 43, 

46, 48, 76. 



INDEX. 



149 



Vamum, Martha, 28. 

Vial, John, Ensign, 6, 15. 

Virginia, 1 13. 

Voluntown, 91, 94, 127, 139. 

Von Steuben, Frederick Wil- 
liam, Baron, 103, 104, 119, 
121. 

Vose, Joseph, Col., 54. 

Wanskuck, 40, 78. 
Ward, Samuel, Col., 77. 
Warren, 11, 21, 22, 25, 44, 49, 

51, 52, 53, 64,65,68,69, 77, 

90. 
Warren River, 14, 32, 68, 69. 
Warwick, 11, 62. 
Warwick Neck, 69. 
Washington, George, Gen., 10. 
Waterbury, 94, 128. 
Waterman, Freelove, 92. 
Waterman, John, 43. 
Waterman, Richard, iS. 
Waterman, Thomas, Lieut., 28, 

29, 66. 
Wayne, Anthony, Gen., 65. 



Webb, Samuel Blatchey, Col., 

28, 31, 39, 47. 90. 
West, Ebenezer, 75. 
West Point, 96, 123, 124, 125, 

129, 130, 131, 132, 135, 136, 

138. 
Wheaton, Joseph, Ensign, 71, 

83. 134- 

Whillys, Lieut., 38. 

Whipple, John, 51. 

Whipple, Naomi, 40. 

White, Mr., 127, 128. 

Whittlesey, Nathan, Qr. Mas- 
ter, 21. 

Wigglesworth, Edward, Col., 2. 

Williams, David, 124. 

Williams, Samuel W., Capt., 
29. 

Windham, 94. 

Winsor, Samuel, Elder, 24. 

Wollsey, Widow 95. 

Woodbury, 95. 

York Island, 109. 



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ing to her trial are printed in the appendix. 

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Sent postpaid upon receipt of the price by the 
publishers. 



Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island. 



An Historical Account of the Forts and Beacons erected during 
the American Revolution. 



By EDWARD FIELD, A.B., 

Past President pf the Rliode hlatid Society of the 
Sons 0/ the A?nerican Rez>olution. 



NEARLY READY. 



Rhode IsIand^s Adoption of the Federal 
Constitution. 



A Discourse before the Rhode Island Historical Society, at its 

Centennial Celebration of Rhode Island's Adoption 

of the Federal Constitution. 



By HORATIO ROGERS, 

President of the Society. 

Paper. 44 pp. 8vo. 35 cents, net. 

This statement of the reasons which impelled the 
state first to hesitate with anxious deliberation, and 
afterwards freely and fully to abandon its independent 
character, and become an integral part of an indissolu- 
ble nation, is made in .such form that it should be the 
end of controversy, and the future student of history 
should require no further material for a just and dis- 
criminating conclusion. 

7 



SAMUELL GORTON: 

FIRST SETTLER OF WARWICK, R. I. 
A FORGOTTEN FOUNDER OF OUR LIBERTIES 



bt lewis g. janes, m. a. 

PRESIDENT OP THE BROOKLYN ETHICAL ASSOCIATION 



Cloth, 12mo. Price $1.00 net. Uniform 

with "Mary Dyer" and "Summer Visit." 



A careful, conscientious and sympathetic study of 
one of the most unique figures in our colonial his- 
tory, and of some of its most exciting episodes. 

It is the first oj^stematic attempt to give candid 
and judicial interpretation of Gorton's peculiar re- 
ligious views, and is of equal interest to the theolo- 
gian and historical student. 



Sent postpaid upon receipt of price by the pub- 
lishers. 



A Summer Visit of Three Rhode Islanders 
to the Massachusetts Bay in 1651. 



Bt henry MEL^^LLE KING, 
Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Providence, R. I. 



Cloth, 12mo., 115 pages. Price $1.00 net. 

Uniform with "Maky Dyer. 



An account of the visit of Dr. John Clarke, 
Obadiah Holmes and John Crandall, siembers 
OF the Baptlst Church in Newport, R. I., to 
William Witter of Swampscott, Mass., in July, 
l(j51 : its innocent purpose and its painful con- 
sequences. 



" Dr. King's pungent and conclusive essay is a 
timely contribution. He adduces competent evi- 
dence reluting the gratuitous insinuations of Palfrey 
and Dexter, who charged the Khode Islanders in 
question with sinister political motives and excused 
their alleged maltreatment on that ground. Cita- 
tions from original documents, with a bibliography, 
put the reader in position to verify the allegations of 
the author." — The Watchman. 



Sent postpaid upon receipt of the price by the 
publishers. 



ESEK HOPKINS: 

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy 1 775 to 1 778; 

Master Mariner; Politician; Brigadier-General; 

Naval Officer; and Philanthropist. 

By EDWARD FIELD, A. B. 
Author of " Revolutionary Defences in Rhode Island " " Tlie 
Colonial Tavern," "Tax Lists of the Town of Providence." 



Edition limited to Three Hundred Numbered Copies. 

Octavo, cloth. Illustrated with Fifteen Plates 

AND A Map. Price, 83.00 net. 



The story of the life of Capt. Esek Hopkins, the 
first commander of the American navj-. has never 
before been told. 3Ir. Field has used Hopkins' own 
papers and records kept during his connection with 
the navy, extract.s from ships' logs, and records in 
the Department of State at Washington. The work 
treats of the origin of the American i^ayy and its first 
expeditions, discloses the reasons which operated 
against the success of Hopkins as a r^aval com- 
mander and exr.oses the plot which resulted in his 
removal from the command of the navy. 

The present work is the result of a patient and 
disinterested study of the character c f the man who 
nt\h^''^ K^"" a hundred years has been the subject 
of the most scathing criticism, and the facts asset 
1.. th m this work will enable one to judge for him- 
self what manner of man he was. The work is a 
timely contribution to the study of the navy. 

Included in the text are names of officers, marines 
and seamen in the n«vy of the Revolution never be- 
tore printed, which will connect with Revolutionary 
service many persons not heretofore associated with 
tliat crisis in American history. 



Pictures of Rhode Island 
in the Past. 

1636-1836. 
By Miss Gertrude Selwyn Kimball. 



MANY interesting descriptions of Rhode 
Island, or of Providence, or of New- 
port appear in the pages of old writers. 
Miss Kimball has had the happy thought of 
making a comprehensive collection of such 
descriptions. They come from a surprising 
variety of sources, natives and foreigners, 
governors and clergymen, soldiers and geog- 
raphers, Quakers and Catholics, French offi- 
cers and American travellers. 

Miss Kimball's plan has been to reprint 
the extracts exactly, to arrange them in 
chronological order, and to prefix to each 
piece a short heading, showing who the 
author was, what was his point of view, 
or under what circumstances he wrote. 
Professor J. Franklin Jameson has written 
a brief introduction. 

The book is issued in a limited edition of 
250 copies at $2 each, delivered. 



ULV/ -■ 



IlBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011698 884 7 ^ 



